Many analysts and observers have already placed Zach Wilson in a New York Jets jersey, but an AFC executive isn’t fully convinced.
In this unpredictable landscape, there appears to be three remaining certainties in life: death, taxes, and Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson hearing their names called first and second at the 2021 NFL draft on April 29 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/NFL Network).
But one AFC executive apparently isn’t convinced.
According to a report from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the anonymous “longtime” front office member declares that if their team held the pick, they personally wouldn’t choose the BYU thrower, and one shouldn’t fully assume the Jets are headed in that direction either.
“Are we all sure that Wilson is going second?” the exec rhetorically asked. “Is that written in stone somewhere? Seriously, have they come out and said it? Maybe Wilson is the pick, but you can’t tell me he is absolutely a better prospect than (Justin) Fields. We would take Fields there at 2. What if they do take Fields? Then San Francisco takes Wilson. Then New England comes up to 4 and gets (Mac) Jones. There’s no way that could happen?”
The NFL draft certainly holds its share of surprises, particularly when it comes to the quarterback slot. No one, for example, saw future Jeopardy! host Aaron Rodgers slipping to the final stages of the 2005 draft’s opening round.
Rodgers’ eventual suitors, the Green Bay Packers, perhaps brought things full circle last season when they drafted Utah State’s Jordan Love with the 26th pick in last year’s proceedings.
Despite the general consensus that they’re leaning toward taking Wilson, the Jets continue to do their due diligence when it comes to the open spot in their franchise quarterback role, having sent representatives to the pro days of Fields and Football Championship Subdivision standout Trey Lance.
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In the grand scheme of things, only one certainty lies in the ongoing draft proceedings: In just over a week, it’ll all be over.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
More important than trying to divine whether the Jets will take Wilson or Fields might be the question of exactly how much difference is there between the two? Is one capable of being a SB caliber QB and the other not? Can one measurably do things the other can’t?
In the absence of a definitive answer, does it really matter which one we take? I’ll be delighted with either one, and trust JD & Co, to pick the right guy.