It’s tough to get a good read on the type of NFL career Zach Wilson will have based on what we saw his rookie year.
He had some real nice moments, and some not-so-nice moments, and an injury that sidelined him for a chunk of the season decreased the sample size. It doesn’t help Wilson’s case that while he was out, backup Mike White was useful.
But the Jets used the second overall pick on the 22-year-old just last year. That means, for one, they won’t give up on him quickly, but also that the expectations for him are high. There’s reason to be skeptical of Wilson blossoming into a franchise-altering signal-caller, and former Jets All-Pro edge rusher John Abraham kicked around the idea of drafting or signing a quarterback this year.
“I’m so stupid, I would draft another quarterback. I would literally draft another quarterback,” Abraham said on the podcast “Upon Further Review with Zach Brook". “I’ve got nothing bad to say about Zach, but I don’t know if he’s the guy.”
Abraham then suggested the Jets approach the situation similarly to the way the Arizona Cardinals did with Josh Rosen, where he was drafted 10th overall but shared a quarterback room with Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon as a rookie. Rosen was traded before his second season when the Cardinals drafted Kyler Murray.
“Something pretty much just like Rosen, like, OK, you think you’re going to be the guy, you’re confident, we love the confidence and everything, but let’s just shake the table a little bit and show you that if you want this job, we’re going to bring somebody that can take it, like literally take it,” Abraham said. “And we’ll just move on to somebody else. And that’s not to say Zack can’t play in the league, he just hasn’t had his opportunities yet being a rookie. But I would put a lot of pressure on him this year in the second year, especially seeing (Joe Burrow) going to the Super Bowl this year, we’re expecting a lot more from second-year quarterbacks now.”
It’s hard to imagine the Jets taking such a chance, at least in the draft. When the Cardinals drafted Murray, it had become clear after one season that Rosen wasn’t going to be a viable long-term option. Wilson showed way more promise when he was healthy.
In terms of a veteran quarterback option, the Jets could look at Cam Newton, Jacoby Brissett, Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, among others. There are options out there who could push Wilson and be a legitimate option to replace him as the starter if he stumbles. Whether the Jets are ready to put that kind of pressure on Wilson remains to be seen.
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