Most overrated player on each of the Buffalo Bills rival AFC East teams
By Adam Hayward
New York Jets: Zach Wilson
The Jets’ search for a franchise quarterback has been a long and arduous one. Ever since the days of Mark Sanchez, the team has taken a chance with Geno Smith and Sam Darnold. Both ended up being disappointments, with Smith having been reduced to a backup role and Darnold being traded to the Carolina Panthers.
It seemed as if New York struck gold in the 2021 NFL Draft when they selected Zach Wilson with the second overall pick. Wilson himself was a very polarizing draft prospect, coming off of just one great college season at BYU in a college system that benefited him. Nonetheless, New York was willing to take the risk when they made the selection at the top of the first round.
Wilson didn’t have the best rookie reason for a quarterback, as he threw more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (9). His competition percentage (55.6%) was last among eligible quarterbacks, and he was 32nd in the league in QBR. Even more, every time he attempted a pass he was sacked ten percent of the time.
Being that he’s the highest-drafted quarterback in Jets history, there is a lot of pressure on Wilson to turn things around in New York. The warts of his rookie season could be attributed to his weak receiving corps and poor offensive line. But if this second-year signal caller can’t redeem himself in his sophomore season, there is a small chance that he will be unable to live up to the hype.