With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Zach Wilson out of BYU. They believed they had just filled their need for a franchise quarterback, a void that has existed for years. Unfortunately, for the Jets, Wilson has ended up being their worst attempt at finding a franchise quarterback in recent history.
His predecessor, Sam Darnold, at least showed flashes at times in his career with Gang Green before they moved on, trading him to the Carolina Panthers. Their attempt before that, Mark Sanchez, had two playoff appearances, going 4-2 in the postseason.
None of that has been produced by Wilson, who has proven that he is not a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL. More often than not, he doesn’t even look the part of a backup capable of stepping in and keeping the team afloat under his watch.
For the second straight year, his underwhelming performance as the starter is looking like it will torpedo any chances of making the playoffs. Stubbornly, this is a ship the Jets’ brain trust seems willing to go down with.
Riding a two-game losing streak, in which the offense has not scored a touchdown in, some personnel changes are being made. But, the quarterback spot is not one of them. Earlier this week, head coach Robert Saleh said that Wilson will once again be the starter in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills.
It is something that has drawn some strong opinions. The latest person to chime in is Colin Cowherd. On a recent segment of his shot, The Herd on FS1 and FOX Sports Radio, he revealed a brutal outlook of what is to come for the Jets given their current situation.
“When you whiff on a QB, you’re constantly defending the indefensible. This thing could careen off the freeway,” Cowherd said.
The Jets made a lot of moves to appease and fit around Aaron Rodgers, none of which have worked. Nathaniel Hackett has been underwhelming in every position without Rodgers as his quarterback. Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Dalvin Cook, all signed to appease Rodgers, have been lackluster.
Not making a move to replace Wilson, or at least bring in veterans to compete with him, has been a disastrous decision. Rodgers has said he plans to return to the field in December, but there has to be something for him to return to. A loss to the Bills in Week 11 would further diminish what is already a minuscule chance of making the playoffs.
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