A fast-rising quarterback prospect, Zach Wilson will depart BYU early. The junior quarterback announced Friday (via Twitter) he will skip his senior year and declare for the 2021 draft.
Not on the early-first-round radar going into this unusual college football season, Wilson has rocketed onto that tier. The Cougars quarterback finished with a 33-3 TD-INT ratio in 12 games, and his 3,699 yards rank third in the country. Also rushing for 254 yards and 10 touchdowns, Wilson led BYU to an 11-1 record this season.
The BYU quarterback has leapfrogged Ohio State’s Justin Fields, whom most expected to be the second quarterback drafted behind Trevor Lawrence in April, on ESPN.com’s Todd McShay’s latest big board. A host of NFL staffers believe Wilson will come out ahead of Fields, per Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com.
While McShay slots Wilson eighth on his latest big board, the value of the quarterback position will put him in play as a top-five pick. With the Jets missing out on Lawrence, who is the expected Jaguars selection at No. 1, they could turn to the ascending BYU product at No. 2 overall.
Wilson will join a quarterback class that is expected to include Lawrence and Fields, along with North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, Alabama’s Mac Jones and Florida’s Kyle Trask. The Gators quarterback announced Thursday, as expected, he will not seek a now-available fifth season in Gainesville.
1. Jags – Trevor Lawrence
4. Hawks – Zach Wilson
19. Washington – Justin Fields
27. Jets – Mac Jones
40. Carolina – Trey Lance
57. Buccs – Kaleb Trask
Jags get a amazing franchise QB.
Hawks get Wilson a young talented QB who can sit a year and learn from a great QB in Ryan.
Washington pick up Fields who I think really impresses Rivera and ends the season starting.
Jets take the OT first and back on their being a lot of depth in this draft a QB. Jones is a really nice QB and starts his career battling with Darnold.
Panthers take a QB early in the second in Lance who has loads of potential and won’t be starting this year so will have time learn the roster and offence.
Lastly the Buccs take a QB and look to the future after Brady. Trask can sit behind Brady and learn lots and would inherit a great team
You really think Washington will take another QB from Ohio State?
Just because Haskins and Fields both went to Ohio State doesn’t mean history is repeating itself. Even Urban Meyer was giving warnings about attitude issues from Haskins.
Justin Fields is a great leader and competitor. When it came to Haskins he really only showed top level performance against tough competition in his game vs TTUN which I think was an overrated school that year. When he faced Clemson he faltered. He also didn’t seem to grow from that loss.
Justin Fields also struggled his first year in his Clemson playoff game. The difference is that really ticked him off and you can see how driven he was to win this year. Yesterday he was amazing and outperformed Trevor by a lot. Even when he was injured on the targeting play he fought through it and tied an OSU record with 6 touchdowns.
Is he as good as Trevor? No, but if you have that combination of talent, competitiveness, and constant drive to improve that is a QB you want. Especially more than BYU which was a team that talked like they were the best around yet acted scared when Washington offered them a game.
You threw me off by calling Atlanta the Hawks and not the Falcons. Washington isn’t taking another Ohio State quarterback (for better or worse), the Jets will either take a QB at 2 or not at all, Trey Lance isn’t falling to 40, and it’s Kyle Trask. Trask behind Brady could be a good fit though, especially in a Bruce Arians offense.
Jets will take OT with the second pick and then take a QB later.
It makes a lot of sense if they still are willing to give Darnold a shot. Take a QB later and then have them battle it out for a year. I like Darnold personality but I don’t think he will succeed just cause he doesn’t have much there. In which case hopefully Jones goes to Washington and Fields falls to the jets. I rate Fields hence why I had him above Jones but maybe y’all are right about the Ohio State link.
As for Trey Lance I see him falling just cause a bunch of teams don’t need a QB. Think Oanyhers only take him because he’s great value and Bridgewater doesn’t have a long term contract.
Then lastly I also like the Trask fit with Arians and especially with him sitting behind and learning from Brady with no pressure to preform straight away. Then instead of Brady retiring and many players leaving cause they think the winning will stop you’ll have this kid Trask having sat and learnt knowing the playbook and the roster.
I don’t see Fields lasting passed NE.
I think NE addresses other areas before QB. BB has given Cam a good chance, he likes Stidham and being the Pats they have that lure in FA. I think BB will want to improve the roster as a whole a little more then take a QB next year
Other areas, QB being the highest priority. He’s not getting past NE.
They’ll trade a 4th for Minshew or something like that. Somehow Get a 6th back next year too. That’s just how they roll.
This is a stupid comment also who calls the Atlanta falcons the hawks?
My bad more of an NBA fan tbh didn’t even think about it really.
The Hawks reference, ok whatev. But have you been reading Steinbeck? Caleb Trask? I like it.
This is a very intelligent and well thought-out plan. As a Jets fan, I like your thinking. They end up with the Hall of Fame offensive lineman and Mac Jones, who impresses. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind them taking Wilson at number two. But boy, do I like that offensive lineman.
Exactly a future great Lineman for protection.
Have him come in and lay a good protection along with last years pick Mekhi Becton and the likes of GVR and McGovern.
Then take a QB in a despise class for QBs and not much teams needing them. Jets at 29 or even early second round could be looking at Jones, Fields, Lance and Trask all of which are first round quality QBs.
Then also really need to address the WR area badly.
Depending on how it all falls, the Bears may draft one of these guys mid first round.
not a Mormon!
Don’t count out the Giants taking a QB. Not sure Daniel Jones has been that impressive.
Might not have been impressive but still under contract for a few more seasons and hasn’t been completely awful.
He was a reach when they took him. I don’t think he’s a long term starter, I think he ends up playing out the season then the giants take a QB next season
Especially if they have a new GM could see them grabbing a QB. They could also go for one of the many veterans that will be made available via free agency or trade.
Jags should keep Minshew at QB. He has shown he can play. They should trade the #1 pick to someone for multiple draft picks. They have lots of holes to fill.
Not happening. There’s no way they’re passing on Lawrence. They’ll keep Minshew as backup on cheap deal.