Jets land Wilson with No. 2 overall pick
The New York Jets selected BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the second overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The 21-year-old wasn't widely viewed as a first-round prospect entering the campaign. However, he had a meteoric rise during the 2020 season and produced an outstanding season for the Cougars. Wilson threw for 3,692 passing yards and 33 touchdowns against three interceptions to establish himself as the widely expected No. 2 pick behind Trevor Lawrence on Thursday.
"This is exactly what I was hoping for. I know we're going to have something special," Wilson said after being drafted, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.
Selecting the big-armed Wilson signals a new era for New York.
After hiring former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as its new head coach in January, the AFC East club traded former first-round quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers in early April to open up the starting job for Wilson.
The Jets haven't made the playoffs since the 2015 season, recording zero winning campaigns and a 23-57 overall record over the last five years.
Draft profile
Key stats: 73.5 completion percentage, 3,692 passing yards, 33 TDs, 3 INTs, 10 rushing TDs
It's easy to fall in love with Zach Wilson's upside transitioning to the next level. His tape at BYU is filled with throws showing off the kind of arm talent and off-platform ability everyone has been looking for since Patrick Mahomes changed the quarterback position. There's some projection involved here, as Wilson benefitted from a favorable situation that rarely put him under any pressure - the NFL will present a new challenge in that regard. But the natural abilities are off the charts, and his production in a wide-zone system should theoretically allow for a quick transition in the right landing spot.