2021 NFL Draft: Analyst Highlights Doubt Concerning BYU’s Zach Wilson

Since acquiring the 2nd overall pick at the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Jets have been linked to multiple quarterbacks this summer.

The exit of Sam Darnold this month confirmed that GM Joe Douglas is looking to draft a young quarterback when the draft begins on April 29th, 2021. A reported front-runner in this race is BYU Cougars prospect, Zach Wilson.

The Utah-born athlete threw for 3,692 yards with 33 passing TDs against 3 interceptions in his final NCAA season. The 21-year-old has reportedly overtaken Justin Fields (Ohio State), Trey Lance (NDSU), and Mac Jones (Alabama Crimson Tide) to emerge as the top candidate to join the Jets as the 2nd overall pick after Trevor Lawrence.

But popular NFL analyst Rex Ryan has his doubts regarding the starry-eyed youngster.

ALSO READ- Former NFL Man Refrains From Calling Trevor Lawrence a ‘Generational Talent’

Will the New York Jets select Zach Wilson at the 2021 NFL Draft?

Speaking to ESPN’s KJZ crew earlier this week, Rex Ryan highlighted the fact that Zach Wilson’s leadership qualities might be exaggerated by the media. He was not a captain at BYU last year which is rare for a starting quarterback, which concerned Ryan.

He said, “The biggest question that I have is the question that anybody would have, ‘How the hell are you not a captain?’ That’s a concern…we knew that while talking to some of the coaches on that staff that he (Zach Wilson) certainly wasn’t the answer.

“I’m not getting that thing that I know from the people around that BYU program. However, it’s always a concern when your starting quarterback is not a captain,” Ryan said on the show.

Ryan does make a sound point. Until March-end, it was Justin Fields who was the leading candidate to join the struggling Jets this year. But after impressing at BYU’s Pro Day meet, Wilson is now the bookmakers’ favorite to join the AFC East old boys.

Robert Saleh’s new-look New York Jets were also linked to Deshaun Watson. But nothing concrete materialized on that front. They’ve since gone on to sign WR Corey Davis, RB Tevin Coleman, and WR Keelan Cole from the free agency pool.

Is Zach Wilson the missing piece of the puzzle in New York? We’ll find out soon enough.

ALSO READ- 2021 NFL Draft: Insider Gives the Latest on Zach Wilson to New York Jets Update