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It really should have little bearing on the decision.
Talking about Zach Wilson’s Pro Day today at BYU.
Pro Days for quarterbacks are a little ridiculous, because the quarterback is throwing against air with no defenders covering the receivers, and no pass rush.
So how do you judge a quarterback making throws with no defenders covering his targets, and no pass rushers breathing down his neck?
C’mon now.
We knew going in he had a really good arm after watching him play for BYU.
So I’m not sure what the 60 scripted throws, in a workout designed by his paid QB coach John Beck, is really going to tell you.
And don’t get me wrong, nothing I’m writing here is anti-Zach Wilson, who I think the Jets should pick at two, it’s just me venting about the absurdity of judging QB prospects at Pro Days.
I’m not saying there is nothing you can get from being there. There are some things you can glean.
“It’s just good to stand next to the quarterback, to see the spin off his hand, to see the ball jump off his hand, to feel his presence,” Joe Douglas said on March 3.
Also, the Jets had three reps at the Pro Day – Douglas, Robert Saleh and OC Mike LaFleur. Being in Provo, around the BYU coaches and other officials, gave them an opportunity to do more research on the player by talking to people.. So that is important. Also to see up close how he interacts with people. Remember, NFL scouts weren’t allowed to attend college practices this year, which is a big part of the scouting process, because you can see how how prospects interact with teammates and how hard they work.
So I’m not saying the Jets, or any other team, got nothing from the Pro Day.
I’m just saying, spare me with the stuff about how he threw well against air with not cover guys or pass rushers. That’s a joke.
Wilson was asked about the Jets during a press conference.
“Great staff. Love those guys,” Wilson said. “Joe Douglas is a great guy. It was good to see him out here. They’ve got a good thing going.”
He was also asked about his surgical shoulder, operated on in 2019.
“I feel great, no issues,” Wilson said. “It was stronger than it was before. I’m glad I got it done. Now, coming out here and showing these coaches that swag, what you’re all about.”
You’d have to think the 49ers trading up to three today, makes it pretty clear the Jets are going to pick Wilson at two. Because Wilson is a wonderful fit for the 49ers offense, and Saleh is very close with Kyle Shanahan, so if the Jets weren’t going to pick Wilson, they probably would have been receptive to the 49ers interest in trading up to two.
I personally think what the 49ers are probably going to do here is pretty darn smart.
They are likely going to do what Andy Reid did in 2017, when he picked Patrick Mahomes, and let him sit a year behind a veteran (Alex Smith) to wean him off his college gimmick offense, and get him comfortable in a pro system.
I think the 49ers are going to pick North Dakota State QB Trey Lance, who has a similar skill set to Mahomes, and have him sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo this year, develop the heck out of him, and have him ready to take over in a year or two.
And the Jets are likely going to take Wilson, and the way he threw today against air, probably didn’t change their feelings on him much.
They will decide based on game film of Wilson playing real football.
March 26, 2021
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