The new Jets quarterback Zach Wilson with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur at the NY Jets rookie mini camp in Florham Park, NJ on May 7, 2021.
At Ny Jets Rookie Mini Camp In Florham Park Nj On May 7 2021
Zach Wilson has the right mindset, but he would have to be absolutely dreadful to not start for the New York Jets right away.
Since Joe Namath led them to an upset win in Super Bowl III, the New York Jets have been trying to find a franchise quarterback. The newest anointed savior is Zach Wilson, who rode a breakout season at BYU all the way to being the No.2 overall pick this year.
The Jets are having their rookie minicamp this weekend. Via ESPN’s Rich Cimini, here’s what Wilson said about what appears to be a clear path to the starting job.
“In this position, the coaches want to play the best player. That position has to be earned,” the No. 2 pick said Saturday on the second day of rookie minicamp. “I have to do what I’m supposed to do. That’ll take care of itself.”
Zach Wilson has the right mindset, but…..
As a rookie taking part in his second day of minicamp on Saturday, Wilson has the right idea that he needs to earn the starting job. Who is he competing with though?
Directly behind Wilson on the depth chart is James Morgan, a fourth-round pick last year out of Florida Atlantic. The No. 3 quarterback for the Jets is Mike White, a 2018 fifth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys out of Western Kentucky. The two have combined to throw zero NFL regular season passes. With no preseason last year, Morgan didn’t even get the benefit of some game reps then.
The Jets may, and probably should, sign a veteran with some experience to fill out their quarterback depth chart. Opinions on how good Wilson is or will be vary, but that to-be-determined veteran would only see the field if Wilson were injured. Ideally, the difference would be negligible in that situation.
Wilson will have a long leash to go through the common struggles of a rookie quarterback. To not earn the starting job, he’ll have to be all-time awful in the easy settings of practices against his teammates and games against preseason defenses.