With The First Pick
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2021 NFL Draft: Zach Wilson officially sets stage for battle for QB2

By Nicholas McGee

Dec 22, 2020; Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) scrambles with the ball against the UCF Knights during the first half at FAU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2020; Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) scrambles with the ball against the UCF Knights during the first half at FAU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zach Wilson has declared for the 2021 NFL Draft

Zach Wilson took the widely expected decision of declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft on Sunday, setting the stage for a potential fight to be the second quarterback off the board.

Wilson has catapulted himself into the discussion as one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s class with a remarkable junior season for a BYU team that finished the year 11-1. He completed 73.4 percent of his passes for 3,699 yards and 33 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Additionally, Wilson rushed for 254 yards and a further 10 scores.

A spectacular campaign in which he demonstrated superb ball placement throwing to all levels of the field, extremely efficient processing skills and the ability to make otherworldly throws on the move has seen Wilson move ahead of Trey Lance in the quarterback pecking order in the eyes of many. North Dakota State star Lance only played one game in 2020 as the Bison’s season was wiped out by the public health crisis.

Zach Wilson in a battle for QB2?

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And there is a growing number of people who believe Wilson is also now ahead of Ohio State’s Justin Fields, who has long since been seen as the presumptive second overall pick behind Trevor Lawrence.

Fields may yet have two opportunities to state his case during the College Football Playoff but, if opinion is split between executives and personnel staff on the identity of the top consolation prize to Lawrence, then the pre-draft season might go a long way to deciding whose name is called after the Jacksonville Jaguars’ anticipated selection of the Clemson phenom.

Drae Harris of The Draft Network breaks down the game of Wilson:

"In the pocket, he has subtle movements and an innate feel for pressure which help him to evade the rush. He also demonstrates good ability to extend plays when he gets outside of the pocket. He demonstrates good mobility on boots and read option plays and is a threat to the defense as a runner. His mobility buys his second chances and he does an outstanding job of keeping his eyes downfield and delivering the football outside the pocket."

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Wilson has enjoyed the closest thing the 2020 college football season has seen to a Joe Burrow rise. He is far from the consensus QB2, but the reward for his junior season surge could well be the title of franchise quarterback of the New York Jets.

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