NY Jets are reportedly ‘intrigued’ by BYU QB Zach Wilson

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Zach Wilson (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

The NY Jets will be keeping a close eye on the quarterbacks in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft class. And perhaps at the top of that list is BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.

Wilson is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in this year’s class and he’s been one of the players most often mocked to the Jets with the second overall pick. As such, it comes as no surprise that the team has shown interest.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler spoke about the Jets’ draft plans on SportsCenter on Sunday and he revealed that the organization is “intrigued” by Wilson. “They like his game. They believe he can really spin it,” Fowler said.

Fowler also indicated that the Jets will be “monitoring the situation” with Houston Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson, but that they also still considered the incumbent Sam Darnold to ve a “viable option.”

How likely is Zach Wilson to be playing for the NY Jets in 2021?

The Jets are understandably keeping their options open this offseason as they search to find a solution at the quarterback position. While Darnold may still be an option, the Jets haven’t been shy about their efforts to find an upgrade this offseason.

From exploring the trade markets for players like Matthew Stafford and Watson to eyeing the top draft prospects, it’s clear that the Jets are preparing to move on from Darnold.

Even if a decision hasn’t been made just yet, it feels inevitable at this point. And if they do move on, Wilson has as good of a chance at being the Week 1 starter as anyone.

A three-year starter at BYU, Wilson broke out in 2020 establishing himself as one of the best quarterbacks in college football. He finished with 33 touchdowns and only three interceptions as well as 3,692 yards while completing over 73 percent of his passes.

Wilson was phenomenal in 2020, and it’s no surprise to hear his name mentioned among the best players in this class.

His blend of arm talent, accuracy, mobility, and moxie makes him the complete package as a top-tier quarterback prospect. There are concerns about his prior medical history and lack of elite competition, but teams remain high on the 21-year-old signal-caller.

One of those teams appears to be the Jets, at least according to various reports. If not Wilson, the likes of Justin Fields and Trey Lance remain in play with the No. 2 overall pick. Of course, you can’t rule out the possibilities of Watson or even Darnold taking snaps under center in 2021 either.

But as of right now, it would be a safe bet to place a wager on Zach Wilson being the Jets’ quarterback this fall.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.