Why Jets QB Zach Wilson has been most impressive player in NFL preseason

Zach Wilson is off to an electric start. Here’s why the New York Jets quarterback has been the most impressive player in the NFL preseason so far.

I know we shouldn’t get too worked up about preseason performances, but the 2021 NFL Draft class has the potential to be one of the best in decades at the quarterback position. With five passers taken in the first round this past April, it’s not hard to see why.

So far this summer, Justin Fields, Trey Lance, and Trevor Lawrence have all made shined at points this preseason and made some impressive plays down the field. Likewise, Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones seems to have done everything right so far and has earned the highest QB grade in the preseason so far, via Pro Football Focus. However, I think Jets QB Zach Wilson has been the most impressive player in the 2021 NFL preseason.

Despite a terrific quarterback class with a handful of amazing prospects this year, the New York Jets knew exactly who they wanted with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Though there was a case to be made of Justin Fields or Trey Lance, Wilson was their guy all along. Now he’s already starting to show why they made the right decisions.

While most other rookie quarterbacks have been very up and down this offseason, it’s been almost all up for Wilson – and his ‘up’ is as high as anyone we have seen so far in the preseason.

Why Jets QB Zach Wilson is most impressive preseason player

Wilson trails only fellow rookie QB, Mac Jones, in his overall grade this summer, but I’d argue that the Jets quarterback has been the most impressive of the two. Wilson already looks thoroughly impressive after landing on a bad franchise where former first-round pick Sam Darnold failed to show hardly any signs of life.

In his first two preseason games, the 22-year-old quarterback has completed 15 of 20 passes for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns, according to ESPN. In his most recent game against the Green Bay Packers, Wilson threw for a whopping 11.6 yards per attempt and earned a remarkable 154.7 quarterback rating prior to exiting the game.

Wilson’s ability to keep his eyes down the field and go through his progressions is rare for a rookie quarterback in the NFL. This is something that Darnold continued to shy away from during his time with the Jets.

After watching Zach Wilson this summer, it’s reasonable to believe that New York’s offense could take a significant leap forward as early as this season. Finding the right quarterback makes all the difference, and the Jets look like they might have their first true franchise signal-caller for the first time in forever.