When the Jets selected Zach Wilson with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, they did not envision having to bring in a veteran just two years later. Needless to say, the career trajectory of Wilson has taken a detour, but can it get back on track? Can Aaron Rodgers rescue Wilson’s career?
Can Aaron Rodgers Fix Zach Wilson?
Aaron Rodgers Offering Mentorship to Zach Wilson Already
On Friday, Wilson spoke with the New York media for the first time since the arrival of Rodgers. He said all the right things. He talked about how the first two years had humbled him, how he had not played well enough, and how the arrival of Rodgers offered a chance to learn from the best.
But, beyond what he said, he looked relaxed. Carrying the weight of expectation in New York is hard enough, carrying that weight while struggling is even harder.
“Right now, I’m having a ton of fun – more fun than I’ve had. That’s the QB room, being with Aaron…every single day, there’s so much to learn.”
Jets fans will be the first to say that fun has been in short supply over the last two years, especially from the quarterback position.
The simple truth is that Wilson was not ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. The pre-draft hype machine did what the pre-draft hype machine does: it convinced us of something that was not there.
The Jets then exacerbated the problem by not providing a veteran voice for the young signal-caller. The tragic passing of Greg Knapp altered plans, but the Jets paired a first-year QB with a first-year coordinator. The results were as expected.
But that was then. This is now. By all accounts, Wilson is making the most of this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business. Rodgers finally offers Wilson the leadership that he both craved and needed. Something that was seemingly in short supply under Mike LaFleur.
“Every day I’m just like: ‘Wow, like I just learned 10 different things about playing the quarterback position’.”
Jets QB Zach Wilson says he's "very appreciative" of Aaron Rodgers: "I am learning a lot of football"https://t.co/7lCBXBCnge pic.twitter.com/w8HaNUypu9
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 9, 2023
Aaron Rodgers’ ‘Unconventional’ Quarterbacking Style
The question remains: can Rodgers help fix Wilson? Of course, it is not a one-man job. Nathaniel Hackett, Todd Downing and Wilson himself will play a part, but Rodgers may be the key to unlocking that potential we hear so much about.
But, according to NFL analysts, it is not advisable for young quarterbacks to try to copy the technique of Rodgers. It is unusual, to say the least.
Tell all young QBs, don’t watch him. He does so many things that go against normal mechanics with his arm and base lol
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) August 16, 2022
But not every quarterback is built the same way. It seems the traditional method of teaching failed with Wilson. We have heard countless times how the Jets were stripping Wilson back to the fundamentals and, thus far, the team have yet to reap the rewards. Maybe Wilson needs a different voice, a different method, and a different style. If it works, it works.
However, Wilson’s struggles go beyond the footwork.
Zach Wilson’s Central Deficiency
If there is one thing preventing Wilson from becoming a starting-calibre NFL quarterback, it is mental processing. So, can Rodgers rescue Wilson’s career? The answer lies in whether Rodgers can teach Wilson to process information under pressure.
According to PFF Zach Wilson was the worst quarterback in football (with a minimum of 100 dropbacks) when passing under pressure last year. He completed just 30.1% of his passes for one touchdown and six interceptions. Kyler Murray was the second worst quarterback in terms of accuracy at 40.5%, which is quite the jump.
That is not an anomaly, however. In 2021, Wilson was again bottom of the pile. He completed just 29.3% of his passes under pressure. Despite that, he did toss more touchdowns (four) than interceptions (three).
Rodgers has never been the most accurate quarterback under pressure. He ranked 16th in 2022, 30th in 2021, and 23rd in 2020. But there is one big difference. Rodgers throws a lot more touchdowns than interceptions. Over the last five years, Rodgers has thrown 32 touchdowns to nine interceptions under pressure. If any of that magic can rub off on Wilson, there may be hope for him yet.
Wilson now has the opportunity to sit back and learn, with the pressure of the world released from his shoulders. How long Rodgers decides to play in New York will determine how long the Jets have to decide if Wilson is the long-term answer.
Main Photo: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
