Since being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson continues to impress in the league. The BYU product is yet to play his first official NFL game, but he’s already getting the attention of fans, analysts, and retired football players with his performance in the preseason.
In Week 2 of the 2021 NFL Preseason, NFL analysts revealed the grades that they gave to Wilson and other players from the 2021 NFL Draft class.
Zach Wilson Receives Grade: A-
In a recent article, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports shared his NFL rookie grades for Week 2 of the 2021 NFL Preseason. Trapasso divided the rookies from those who impressed and those who disappointed.
Unsurprisingly, Wilson was included in the list of rookies who impressed and received a grade of A- from Trapasso. So far, the 22-year-old quarterback continues to live up to expectations from a No. 2 overall pick. In the first two games, Wilson posted 15-of-20 for 191 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Zach Wilson Named As Best QB Of 2021 NFL Preseason
Meanwhile, Donovan Dooley of Deadspin named Wilson the "best rookie quarterback" of the 2021 NFL Preseason. However, he noted that Wilson only got that title because most of the starters of other NFL teams are on the sideline, trying to preserve their bodies for the start of the 2021 NFL season.
Dooley believes that the only rookie quarterback who could be put on the same conversation as Wilson is Mac Jones of the New England Patriots. Jones was selected at the No. 15 spot in the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL Draft Analyst Gives Zach Wilson Grade: B+
For draft analyst Chad Reuter of NFL.com, Wilson deserves a grade of B+ for his performance in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL Preseason. Despite losing some of their key players due to injuries, Wilson still managed to show the skillset the scouts admired from him when he was still playing at BYU.
In their preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Wilson doesn’t look like a rookie at all, exploiting the opposing team’s reserves throughout the rest of the first half. Also, he’s starting to look more comfortable executing the Jets’ offensive scheme.
Jets Still Not Expected To Contend In 2021 NFL Season
Still, no matter how good Wilson is right now, most people still don’t see the Jets contending for the Super Bowl in the 2021 NFL season. Wilson may have managed to make a good impression in the 2021 NFL preseason, but it would take more than a promising quarterback to bring the Jets back to title contention.
To make things complicated, the Jets are already dealing with numerous injuries even before the season starts. Their biggest free-agent signing this summer, defensive end Carl Lawson, recently suffered a torn Achilles. Safety Zane Lewis is expected to miss the season with a torn patella tendon and sprained MCL, while wide receiver Denzel Mims is day-to-day after recently leaving the field with a hip injury.
