Zach Wilson's ill-fated Jets career ended with a whimper Wednesday. He is still being treated for a concussion and will miss the final game of the season against the Patriots in Foxborough.
“I believe he's going to have a hell of a career, whether it's here or somewhere else,” Robert Saleh said.
It will be in a different location.
It must be somewhere else.
It ended too soon for too many young players, the Jets' franchise quarterback not named Joe Namath. Just ask Geno Smith. Or Mark Sanchez. Or Sam Darnold. Wilson is just the latest.
Saleh describes it as a “series of unfortunate events.”
why? how? What happened to Zach Wilson?
He wasn't a franchise QB
Broncos coach Sean Payton told me Wilson was a low first-round pick. Jets GM Joe Douglas has his eye on the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
organizational failure
The night the Jets drafted Wilson from BYU as their new savior, Saleh texted him on the war room phone: “This organization is going to lift you up, not the other way around.”
Neither lifted the other up, instead dragging the other down.
As a rookie this season, Wilson wasn't ready to be thrown into the fire like Texans QB CJ Stroud. But the Jets couldn't help but be drawn to his arm talent.
A book could have been written about The Spoiling of Zach Wilson. He sees no evil, hears no evil, and speaks no evil. Boring soccer is fine, Zack. You don't have to play hero ball, Zack. The unforgivable has always been forgiven in the name of progress. At the end of Wilson's rookie season in the spring, Douglas appeared on “The Michael Kay Show” and exclaimed, “I 100 percent see greatness.” The Jets never stopped seeing what they wanted to see.
In the end, he was benched three times, but only reluctantly. We were told that a reset might actually be beneficial for him. After a 10-3 loss to Foxboro last season, Saleh had no choice but to turn to Mike White after Wilson took no responsibility.
Saleh is a defense coach. Everything is fine. A head coach doesn't have to be an offensive guru. But Mike LaFleur was a rookie OC who was as smart as he was and was trying to improve Wilson. LaFleur left after two seasons and was replaced by Nathaniel Hackett. Next question.
supporting cast
LT Mekhi Becton (knee) was unable to stay on the field in 2021 and missed the entire 2022 season (patella) after transferring to RT. He will play his final game as a Jet on Sunday against the Patriots. Aaliyah Berra-Tucker, a valuable and versatile guard/tackle, has appeared in just 12 games over the past two seasons. 38-year-old LT Duane Brown was at risk of injury on the blindside and could not contribute. Center Connor McGovern (patella) was lost against the Giants.
RB Breece Hall tore his ACL in Week 7 of 2022, leaving Wilson unable to provide a balanced attack last season. WR Denzel Mims failed in the second round. WR Elijah Moore was traded last season after becoming disillusioned. WR Corey Davis quit during training camp. WRs Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb were imports for Aaron Rodgers and were not a factor. Garrett Wilson somehow has 93 catches for 1,008 yards this season. Hall's pitching numbers early in the season showed off his greatness. Dalvin Cook is gone.
Douglas has vowed to help Darnold as a protector and playmaker. He was not satisfied with either. For both. Better run fast for Rodgers.
new york
Wilson said he ignored social media, a wise move for the Draper, Utah, kid. Would it have struggled in smaller markets? probably. nevertheless. “A lot of times, being a top draft pick doesn't necessarily make you an eight-win, nine-win, 10-win team,” Trevor Siemian told the Post. “You walk into a team that's trying to figure it out. So you're a rookie and at the same time you've grown up trying to handle a team that's probably trying to grow with you. It's really easy. That’s not the point.”
When asked what he thought the future held for Wilson, CJ Mosley said: That's going to be the story for him, but whether it's here or anywhere else, it's up to him to change it. ”
Wilson (23 TD, 25 INT in three seasons) has improved. However, the hurdle was very low. His career completion percentage is 57.
The Jets are expected to decline his fifth-year option. He has a guaranteed salary of $5.5 million plus bonuses in 2024. Perhaps what he learned under Rodgers for one season could have been a career changer for him. we never know.
“There’s no patience for anyone, especially quarterbacks, especially in this market,” Siemian said. “But long-term, I think Zack will be fine.”
Will someone take a fifth-round pick for Zach Wilson?
“I'll be interested to see what kind of player he will be when he's 30,” Siemian said.
Wherever Zach Wilson is.
