Zach Wilson was the Jets No. 2 overall pick, the franchise’s second quarterback drafted in the top three in the last three years, and was the second quarterback taken in this year’s draft.
Now, the 21-year-old will probably wear No. 2 on his jersey when he takes the field as a Jet for the first time.
Wilson was wearing No. 2 as Gang Green opened rookie camp this weekend, and while he told reporters that he hasn’t officially decided on a number just yet, it’s looking like he will stick with that number as he begins his anticipated Jets tenure. Wilson said he thought it was “a cool number” and liked that it matched the number where he was drafted last week.
"I like single digit numbers," Wilson said. "And I think it's kind of cool that I was the second pick."
Saturday was Wilson’s first time talking with reporters since putting on a Jets helmet for the first time, and has begun to get acclimated with his fellow rookies as the Jets prepare to bring in a new era for the franchise.
“It was fun to get back to playing ball and meeting some of the guys, just getting used to some of the differences between college ball and the NFL,” Wilson said. “Obviously learning all the new plays, getting used to throwing to new guys, the speed of the game is a little different…so it was good just to get back after it.”
Wilson has already spoken directly with most of his fellow rookies, but is hoping to get familiar with the rest of the team soon.
“I feel like that connection with your guys is super important,” Wilson said. “There are still more guys I want to reach out and get to know. There are a lot of new faces in the building…that’s where that connection starts, making sure we get on the same page and become friends and start to get to know each other. It all starts there. And I need to get to know the veteran guys, guys that are on the team already as well.”
Wilson has had a number of veterans reach out to him already, despite most of them not being able to meet him in person yet, including defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, who knows what it’s like to be a top-three pick in New York after the Jets took him third overall in 2019.
“They’ve actually all reached out to me, which is really cool,” Wilsons said. “It shows these guys care and really want to win and do everything they can. Its cool those guys have reached out….it’s exciting to get to know all those guys by name and the similarities we all have.”
Wilson has already noted some similarities between his offensive scheme at BYU and the new plays he is learning in rookie camp, which was a plus for Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh when they decided to take Wilson second overall. But there has been plenty to learn in his first days with his new team, and there will be much more to soak in as he approaches his rookie season, when many will expect him to be the Week 1 starter.
“Obviously that’s important, but that’s not my focus right now,” Wilson said of being the potential starter to begin the season. “My focus is just to learn the offense and jeep getting better every single day, do what I can with the guys around me, and the rest will take care of itself. That position has to be earned.”
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