It’s becoming increasingly clear that if Zach Wilson is to make a mark in the NFL, it won’t be as a member of the New York Jets.
While opinions vary on which team might offer the best fit for the former No. 2 overall pick, NFL Hall of Famer and fellow BYU alum Steve Young believes that Wilson’s path to success lies in the NFC West.
“To me, the place he needs to be is in L.A. Go with Sean McVay. Follow (Matthew) Stafford and just sit there and watch the magic and then see if you can pick it up,” Young said. “If you can, then you can be one of the best because you have the talent for it. But he has to get to one of those spots.”
Matthew Stafford, who is set to turn 36 next week, is currently under contract with the Los Angeles Rams until 2026. However, there’s a possibility he could retire before his contract expires.
The Rams attempted to restructure his contract in July, a move Stafford resisted. Nevertheless, they could pursue another attempt at reworking his deal in the future.
Spending time in Los Angeles under the guidance of head coach Sean McVay could prove beneficial for Wilson, who is just 24 years old.
This scenario mirrors what happened with Baker Mayfield, who spent the latter half of the 2022 season with the Rams before securing a spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the offseason. Mayfield enjoyed a career-defining year and is now poised for a significant contract extension in Tampa.
To support Young’s perspective, the Rams boast a more potent running game, a dynamic wide receiver duo, and a stronger tight end presence compared to what Wilson experienced with the Jets this season.
In L.A., Kyren Williams emerged as the NFL’s third-leading rusher, accumulating 1,144 yards and ranking seventh in rushing touchdowns with 12 this season. Contrastingly, the Jets haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Chris Ivory achieved the feat in 2015 with 1,070 yards.
Additionally, the Rams’ offensive line allowed 30 fewer sacks and 77 fewer pressures compared to New York’s beleaguered line.
Puka Nacua made an impact by finishing fourth in the NFL in receiving yards (1,486) and ninth in receptions (105). When Cooper Kupp is healthy, the Rams possess one of the league’s premier wide receiver tandems. In comparison, the Jets’ second-leading receiver, Allen Lazard, posted just 23 receptions and 311 yards this year.
Zach Wilson being traded to the Rams certainly would make sense and it would give him a great coaching staff and supporting cast to work with.
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