The saga of Zach Wilson and his tumultuous tenure with the New York Jets is a vivid illustration of the high stakes and harsh realities of quarterback development in the NFL. As ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky passionately articulated during a segment on “NFL Live,” the responsibility for Wilson’s struggles seems to squarely fall on the Jets’ decision-making process, particularly in how they managed his early career.
“This is the Jets’ fault,” Orlovsky asserted, pinpointing the organization’s approach as a fundamental misstep in nurturing their young quarterback. According to Orlovsky, the Jets’ eagerness to rush Wilson onto the field, despite his evident mechanical flaws from college, set the stage for the challenges that would follow.
“They immediately put him on the field. When you take players that have specifically mechanical flaws and you put them on the field, you set them up for failure,” he explained.
New York Jets and Zach Wilson’s Early Career
The narrative of Wilson’s career is as much about the Jets’ management decisions as it is about his on-field performance. Jets head coach Robert Saleh himself admitted in January a wishful retrospect: the team should have perhaps eased Wilson into the NFL, allowing him a year to adapt and learn from the sidelines.
Instead, Wilson was thrust into the limelight as a starter in his rookie year, playing in 13 games, and facing repeated benchings during the 2022 season. The situation reached a critical point when he was unexpectedly called back to start after Aaron Rodgers’ injury in the 2023 season opener, only four snaps in.
Orlovsky highlighted the consequences of such hasty decisions, noting, “The two things that were Zach’s issues coming out of school were, he was, in his lower half, a problem. And mechanically not consistent. That’s never been fixed, partly because of having to play right away.” This ongoing struggle with mechanics and the resultant panic with the football have been major factors in Wilson’s inability to establish himself as a consistent starter.
Zach Wilson’s Prospects with the Denver Broncos
As Wilson transitions to the Denver Broncos, his role is expected to be markedly different. Labeled as “a third-string flier” and “a developmental project” by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the upcoming season might not see Wilson playing. This step back could be crucial for Denver to evaluate and possibly correct the mechanical issues that have plagued his career so far.
Denver’s head coach Sean Payton faces the challenging task of transforming Wilson into a legitimate starting quarterback by September 2025. The outcome will not only influence Wilson’s future but could also serve as a case study in how NFL teams handle young talents with potential yet noticeable flaws.
"I don't view this as the team failing the quarterback, as much as the failure was in drafting Zach Wilson"@Connor_J_Hughes with more on the Jets-Zach Wilson era coming to a conclusion: https://t.co/hECisiO3r3 pic.twitter.com/RgifbCwja8
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) April 22, 2024
The Broader Implications for NFL Teams
Wilson’s experience is a cautionary tale for other NFL teams about the risks of rushing young quarterbacks into action without adequate preparation. As teams continue to invest heavily in promising talents, the balance between immediate performance pressure and long-term development needs remains a critical consideration.
In sum, while Wilson’s future in the NFL hangs in the balance, the lessons from his story with the Jets could resonate far beyond his career, potentially affecting how teams across the league approach the complex task of quarterback development.
Source: Yardbarker
