WHO’S NUMBER 2? Wilson or Fields: The choice that could make or break the Jets
The Jets hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and the hype-train for BYU’s Zach Wilson is fuller than a New York subway during rush hour. Wilson has been linked to the Jets throughout the offseason. And after general manager Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur attended his pro day last Friday, the connection has only grown.
The internet exploded after Wilson threw a pass fading left and flicking a bomb down the middle of the field during his pro day. People drooled over the throw as if it happened in the Super Bowl. But throughout the offseason, Wilson’s stock has skyrocketed and rightfully so.
Wilson’s film shows electric off-platform throws reminiscent of two former NFL and Super Bowl MVPs: the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
Ohio’s State’s Justin Fields is still in the mix, who before the college season was pegged as the No. 2 quarterback behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. Fields’ pro day is on March 30.
Wilson has taken the lead at No. 2, but here’s what some NFL experts think.
WHO’S THE BETTER PROSPECT?
One AFC East scout said he would draft Wilson at No. 2 even though he considered Fields the better athlete.
“Zach processes much better than Fields and he’s more accurate,” the scout said. “Wilson is just not as big and strong as Fields, he’s like Superman. He’s super strong, big and fast. He just holds the ball a little bit. The person I thought about was Jalen Hurts. It’s something Fields can overcome, but it’s not my preference.”
The scout compared Fields’ physical ability to the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen.
“The big physical specimen part of their games is similar,” the scout said. “Big dudes that can drive the ball, they break tackles in the backfield and can extend plays.”
Greg Cosell, NFL analyst and senior producer at NFL Films, also gave Wilson the edge.
“Wilson has a far better feel for the timing and rhythm of the pass game. I think he’s a more accurate thrower,” Cosell said. “I think Wilson has better second reaction ability in terms of moving and throwing. Fields is a better runner, but I think that as far as moving and throwing, Wilson is much better than Fields. Wilson is more refined than Fields.”
Cosell said Fields’s physical traits were elite, but that his weakness was how quickly he reads defenses.
“From a physical standpoint, there’s nothing he can’t do. You’re dealing with a kid who has a big arm, he’s a specimen. He’s a very talented kid and a high level traits guy,” Cosell said. “He kind of tended to be a bit late on some throws. At times he didn’t show a natural feel for the timing and anticipation that’s required. His recognition is a bit slow, I think his field vision needs work.”
Bucky Brooks, a former NFL
player, scout and currently works for NFL Network, picked Fields over Wilson for his pedigree.
“Fields was a 5-star recruit. Fields has always been on the major stage. We’ve seen him play in monster games against monster competition. We’ve seen him in those games flash the ability to be the best guy on the field,” Brooks said. “In back-to-back years, we saw Justin Fields in playoff games against Clemson look like the best player on the field.”
Brooks was also infatuated with Fields’ upside because of how well it fit into today’s NFL.
“I think Justin Fields has more upside (than Wilson) because he’s a bigger body and is more athletic,” Brooks said. “The game continues to trend towards those athletes: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Pat Mahomes.”
Brooks dismissed the concerns about Fields’ struggles with reading defenses because of the structure of Ohio State’s offensive scheme. He thought the narrative came from Fields’ struggles against Northwestern and Indiana where he combined for five interceptions.
“Their system has a lot of options where the receiver runs option routes based on what the coverage does. Sometimes Justin hangs on his read, waiting to see which way his receivers are gonna break,” Brooks said. “In those games they delayed changing coverage and tricked and fooled him, and he was hesitant. That created a lot of the narrative part. But I don’t think it is a problem. I think when you talk to him, you realize how smart he is.”
WHO’S THE BETTER FIT FOR THE JETS?
The way a franchise builds an offense around their quarterback is important. LaFleur is going to run a west coast system similar to San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
The scout believed Wilson would be a better match for that Jets offense.
“Wilson fits better based on his college skill set, because a lot of things they asked the quarterback to do doesn’t involve having a huge arm,” the scout said. “He’s accurate and he can process quickly. He works the field not only vertically, but also across as well. I think that he would take less coaching.”
Brooks believed Fields would dominate in their offense.
“In a system that is tailor-made to make the game easy for the quarterback, he could absolutely crush it in that system,” Brooks said. “It’s a lot of play action. There’s a lot of stuff where it is one or two reads in the route concept. You fake it, you get the ball out, and then your athleticism also poses another threat to the defense.”
But Brooks also thought Wilson would also do damage.
“He should kill it. He should flourish,” Brooks added. “Bootlegs and quick rhythm throws, he can do all those things. He is a significant upgrade over Sam Donald.”
NFL COMPARISONS
The scout believed Fields’ comp is a better version of the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott. He compared Wilson to the Raiders’ Derek Carr and 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo with better playmaking.
Brooks viewed Fields as a blend between Allen and Prescott and that his game compares stylistically to Rodgers.
Cosell didn’t give a comp for either one.