Jets Country

New York Jets Select QB Zach Wilson With No. 2 Pick in 2021 NFL Draft

The New York Jets pick BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall selection of the 2021 NFL draft. Wilson replaces Sam Darnold as the Jets franchise QB

Max Goodman

USA TODAY NETWORK

The New York Jets have their new franchise quarterback.

As expected, the Jets selected Zach Wilson out of BYU with the No. 2 overall pick on Thursday night, starting anew at the most important position in the sport. 

Wilson is the Jets' highest-drafted QB since Joe Namath was picked first overall by the team in 1965. He's the sixth quarterback New York has picked in the first round since Namath, a list that includes Sam Darnold, Mark Sanchez, Chad Pennington and Ken O'Brien.

Speaking of Darnold, selecting Wilson means the Jets also made NFL history. New York is the first franchise in the common draft era (since 1967) to pick two quarterbacks within the top three overall picks in a four-year span.

Long before New York traded away Darnold this offseason—their first-rounder in 2018 and beleaguered signal-caller—this organization could've gone several different directions with the second selection.

Instead of trading the pick away, or adding a different top prospect, general manager Joe Douglas and his team went with the quarterback that they've fallen in love with over the last few months. 

From an impressive performance in the 2020 season to a spectacular showing at his Pro Day, Wilson has distinguished himself as the second-best quarterback of this loaded class, right behind Trevor Lawrence (who went to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the first pick).

In 12 games this past season, Wilson was dominant, throwing for 3,692 yards at BYU, twirling 33 touchdown passes to his three interceptions. The competition wasn't always top notch, but Wilson showed so many improvements over his three years at BYU. He doesn't turn the ball over, he can use his feet and throw on the run, has plenty of potential to thrive at the next level. 

MORE: Why Zach Wilson is the Right Choice For the Jets at No. 2

Wilson is a tremendous fit in new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur's offense. The BYU product won't necessarily turn this franchise around immediately—it'll be a long process to take a two-win team back to contention—but for a team that's struggled to find the right fit at QB for quite some time, all signs point toward Wilson taking this franchise in the right direction.

Now that the Jets have addressed the quarterback position, what's next? New York has the No. 23 pick later on Thursday evening, a chance to either bolster their offensive line, add a cornerback or edge rusher for head coach Robert Saleh's defense or secure a playmaker to provide Wilson with another weapon.

Alternatively, Douglas and the Jets could trade that pick to go get a better player earlier in the first (or trade back and add to this organization's surplus of draft capital).

No matter what the Jets do, keep it locked in right here at Jets Country for more coverage throughout the entire NFL draft and beyond.

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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