Douglas Has Big Decision If Wilson Is Not Ready For New York
New York Jets quarterback, Zach Wilson's performance Sunday against the New England Patriots was nothing new for Gang Green fans. They've seen Bill Belichick dismantle the green and white's dreams, one quarterback at a time. In fact, first-round draft pick quarterbacks are a Belichick specialty. He usually has them "seeing ghosts" or old Bill just has the Jets' QB's throw his Patriots the ball at very inopportune times.
The second overall pick in the 2021 draft was terrible on Sunday. Outside of a glimpse productivity, against a down Steelers team, the baby-faced QB out of BYU has been less than average for Robert Saleh's squad. Many evaluators still question what general manager Joe Douglas saw in Zach Wilson in the first place. However, Saleh has the Jets playing good football, despite his QB's lack-luster performance. Could the Jets actually cut-bait and move on from their poster-boy, if things don't start to turn around? Bob Glauber, longtime NFL columnist for Newsday thinks they may and points to a move by head coach Robert Saleh.
After Zach Wilson returned to action in Week 4, Saleh elevated quarterback Mike White to the back-up QB role and moved veteran Joe Flacco to the #3 spot. Glauber thinks that move could have been significant. Saleh and Douglas have been very careful to separate White from the sometimes floundering Wilson, in order to avoid unnecessary comparisons. However, this time Saleh knew the importance of preparing the best quarterback that will give his team the greatest opportunity to win, if something were to happen to Zach Wilson...like if he's not any good. That meant elevating White to the #2 position, in order to give him reps with first team offense.
Who knows if Mike White is really better than Zach Wilson? What we do know is in 18 games, Zach Wilson has thrown 12 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. We also know that when Joe Flacco filled in for the injured Zach Wilson he moved around like he had cement blocks tied to his feet. Flacco is less than a good option at this point in his career. That leaves Mike White as a possible savior for Jets fans. Will the Jets make a move like that? Only, if winning is more important to Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas than getting a draft pick right. We'll see.