The New York Jets are set to open up training camp on July 27th which means that, as of today, weâre only 2 weeks away from seeing Gang Green step on the field at Florham Park for the first time since minicamp and OTAs ended. It may just be the tip of the iceberg, but here are 3 key things to keep your eyes on this summer:
Zachâs Wilson and the quarterbacks.
Source: New York Jets
It goes without saying that all eyes will be on the quarterbacks when the Jets open up camp, the most notable player in that group being the 2nd overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft. Zach Wilson had a (mostly) strong spring, making a number of very impressive throws, looking more than comfortable running the offense, while drawing quite a bit of praise from his coaches and teammates. Yes, there were some moments where he looked like a rookie (which is to be expected considering that he is one), but the consensus amongst the team beat reporters and those who got to watch him up close was that Wilson was never âswimmingâ or âlostâ and, overall, looked the part. The same, however, cannot be said for fellow young signal-callers James Morgan and Mike White, who struggled mightily. It shouldnât be a surprise to anyone that it seems to be Zachâs job to lose, but that doesnât mean the Jets should enter the season with 3 quarterbacks who havenât started an NFL game. I would expect the team to bring in a veteran QB to back-up, mentor, and push Zach Wilson at some point, either before training camp opens or soon after, perhaps even after the first wave of cuts.
The Cornerbacks.
Source: New York Jets
The group of players with the largest boom or bust potential on this years Jets squad might just be the cornerbacks. Penciled in as the outside starters are 3rd year veteran Blessaun Austin and last yearâs 5th round draft pick, Bryce Hall, who showed a good amount of promise in the 8 games he played last season. Isaiah Dunn is another name to watch here as he was one of the players who stood out quite a bit during the spring. Javelin Guidry will likely man the slot, however I would expect rookies Michael Carter II and Brandon Eichols to rotate in a fair amount there. Overall, this particular group is young and raw, but the potential is there for a couple of guys to emerge. There is, of course, a chance that Joe Douglas looks to sign a veteran FA like Steven Nelson or Richard Sherman to bolster this group as well, but I donât expect them to make such a move until after the first pre-season game, at the earliest, as head coach Robert Saleh has already stated that he would like to get the younger players as much playing time and reps as possible before looking to add outside help.
The Offensive Line.
Source: New York Jets
There may not be a position group on this team with more resources pumped into it than the OL, a far cry from the days of Mike Maccagnan. Joe Douglas began building his âGreat Wallâ last year when he selected rising star LT Mekhi Becton 11th overall after signing free agents Greg Van Roten (RG), George Fant (RT), and Conor McGovern (C). The results were mixed, as the Jets finished in the bottom half of the league in both pass protection and rushing production. That being said, the unit was not helped by Adam Gaseâs play-calling or 3rd year QB Sam Darnoldâs inability to identify blitz packages pre-snap, set the correct protections, and scan the field post-snap. In fact, there was an uptick in pass protection when veteran signal-caller Joe Flacco was thrust into the starting lineup due to injury, as he was noticeably better than Darnold at all of those aforementioned tasks. However, by seasons end, it was very apparent that the OL still needed some work, especially once it became clear to Douglas that he would be moving on from Sam Darnold and selecting a young rookie quarterback 2nd overall. After selecting Zach Wilson, Joe wasted no time making a big move to protect him, packaging picks, trading up, using his 2nd first round pick on talented OG Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC. Douglas wasnât done though. His most recent move was inking former Washington Football Team RT Morgan Moses to a one year deal, arguably giving the Jets their best pair of bookend Tackles since DâBrickashaw Ferguson and Damien Woody. All of these moves have a trickle down effect as well. The Jets expect their Center, Conor McGovern, to have a bounce back year, especially with, presumably, better guard play around him. Last years starting RT, George Fant, can now be utilized as a swing tackle, offering extra versatility. What was once a shallow unit now has depth. Training camp will give us a first true look at this rebuilt unit, as the pads will finally be strapped on, and contact will be allowed, something missing and not allowed in minicamp or OTAs.
As the 2021 NFL draft looms, I figured now would be the perfect time to give my final write-ups on the talented signal callers available in this years class. At this point, all the tape has been watched, the arguments for each guy have been debated ad nauseam, so decisions are ready to be made that will shape the immediate and, more importantly, long-term futures of numerous NFL teams. Alongside these write-ups, I will also be including which teams I believe these particular players will end up playing for.
⢠Trevor Lawrence | QB | Clemson – Lawrence is a player that needs no introduction. The kid widely referred to as âSunshineâ by his teammates for his long hair and looks that closely resemble a character with the same nickname in the 2000 football film âRemember The Titansâ was, seemingly, born to play the position of quarterback, and has been in the spotlight since he was winning state championships at Cartersville High School and competing in the Elite 11 quarterback competition. He has ideal size, standing at 6 foot 5 5/8 inches, while weighing in at 213 pounds, and boasting a 10-inch hand size, so there isnât much left to complain about when it comes to Trevorâs measurable features. There isnât much to bemoan about his golden right arm either. Lawrence throws the short and intermediate ball better than any prospect I have seen in all my years watching football. While he could stand to improve his deep ball passing just a bit, he already showed the ability to do exactly that this past college football season, making marked improvement in that particular area of his game from his Freshman and Sophomore seasons. While Trevor seemingly has it all going on for him physically, he also has shown that he has a high level football IQ and that transitioning to the pro game should be no issue for him. Clemson gave Lawrence a pretty decent level of control at the line of scrimmage, and he handled it with ease, constantly showing off the ability to diagnose pre-snap blitzes, read coverages, and call audibles. Post-snap, he was just as brilliant, routinely finding the opposing secondaryâs weak spot and attacking it with laser accurate precision. Donât forget to account for his legs as well. He boasts deceptive athleticism for someone who plays the quarterback position and the threat to run should always be accounted for when game planning for him.
Ultimately, Trevor Lawrence is truly, in my eyes, the cleanest prospect to come out of college since Andrew Luck in 2012. His unique physical attributes and skill set make him the perfect prototypical quarterback prospect for where the NFL is going at the position.
NFL comparison: The best case scenario? John Elway with the stature of Peyton Manning. Worst case? I donât believe his floor is lower than, say, a Justin Herbert-like player.
⢠Zach Wilson | QB | BYU – Anyone who watched college football closely this year will be able to tell you that there was, arguably, no player even close to as electric at the quarterback position as Zach Wilson. Highlight play after highlight play helped shine the national spotlight on the former 3 star recruit and, boy, did he ever put on a show. From a physical standpoint, Zach measures in at just under 6â3 (6 foot 2 1/8 inches) and weighs in at 214lbs so, with those numbers, he is not the physical freak of this quarterback class, especially when compared to guys like Trevor Lawrence or Trey Lance. One look at his frame will tell you that. However, this is an area where he can improve, especially when he is introduced to an NFL strength and conditioning program to go along with an NFL health and nutrition program. I always think back to Mark Sanchez when evaluating a players body type, as he was another guy who possessed the height, but needed to fill out his frame a bit to withstand hits in the NFL. By the time Sanchez had hit his 3rd season, he looked like a very different player in terms of physical build, so I have no doubts that Zach can do the same. Heâll have to, as he already has somewhat of an injury history, including a torn labrum in each of his shoulders. Another concern many people have with him is the level of competition that he faced. While I can understand some of the concerns, I think what gets lost in translation a bit is that Wilson is also, for the most part, playing with guys who, quite frankly, wouldnât be starting at any other school as well. With those same players he was able to compile incredible statistics and notch signature wins against much better teams like Tennessee or USC with such a supporting cast during his 3 year tenure as BYUs starter. This transitions beautifully into the part of the article that explains just why it is Zach has found all this success. Where Wilson really shines is his intelligence and his play making abilities on the field. He shows an advanced ability to go through his progressions, dissect coverages, manipulate DBs with his eyes, use his athletic talents to pick up yards on the ground or make off-platform throws inside and outside of the pocket. He also possesses upper level arm talent and a lightning quick release that reminds me quite a bit of guys like Aaron Rodgers or Tony Romo. He could stand to improve his footwork a little bit, but itâs nothing too concerning. Footwork is, typically, the easiest thing to coach into a quarterback and based on film from his off-season workouts, as well as his pro day, Wilson has made cleaning that part of his mechanics up a priority.
My clear-cut QB2 in this years class, Zach Wilson is a true boom or bust prospect. He is not nearly as âsafeâ as someone like Trevor Lawrence. However, the upside is a truly elite talent at the quarterback position. With the right refinement and coaching, he has the potential to be a special player in this league. The argument can even be made that his ceiling is the highest out of anyone in this class, Lawrence included.
NFL comparison: If Zach can reach his full potential, those Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Tony Romo comparisons are not far off at all. He has that type of ability. If he falters, I think youâre looking at a player who closely resembles Alex Smith. No, I donât mean the incredibly efficient QB that managed to salvage his career and reinvent himself either. I mean the guy that struggled mightily his first few years in the league and needed to be rebuilt from the ground up in order reach âgame managerâ levels of production.
NFL draft prediction: 2nd overall pick, New York Jets.
Source: @mcmanusdesign on Instagram.
⢠Justin Fields | QB | Ohio State – Like Lawrence, Justin Fields spent his entire career, from high school up until now, under bright lights and the national media. While this has itâs benefits in terms of exposure, Justin is finding out that sometimes, being under the microscope does more harm than good. The former Buckeye has been under intense scrutiny the last few months and, personally, I find most of it to be incredibly unfair nitpicking of a quarterback prospect who would, in my opinion, challenge every other player in this class, not named Trevor Lawrence, for the right to be selected 1st overall. Starting with the measurable numbers, he possesses more than enough size at 6 foot 2 3/4 inches and 227 pounds. More impressively, he was able to run a blazing fast 4.44 40-yard dash at this size, making him, arguably, the most explosive and athletic quarterback in this class. If youâre a defensive coach game planning for him, you better account for his legs. In the passing game, Fields possesses fantastic arm strength and great accuracy in the short, intermediate, and deep levels. In fact, he might possess the best deep ball accuracy and deep ball placement of any of the 5 projected 1st round quarterbacks, giving him a unique advantage over all those other players in an area the NFL game is moving towards. At this point, you might be asking yourself âSo whatâs the catch; what are his issues?â and that is where this write-up takes a turn. Fields, to no fault of his own, played for one of the best all-around teams in college football, in a system that is seemingly geared towards taking as much responsibility off the shoulders of itâs quarterback as possible, and it has made him a very polarizing player. When your 1st read is open on almost every single play, something Fields himself has admitted to being the case in many a situation, and your offensive line is so good that you can hold the ball longer than 3 seconds when getting blitzed, it makes it very difficult to determine how advanced a quarterback is in the mental aspect of the game along with how he will handle the skill gap of the NFL when he doesnât have the best players on the field at every single position. This isnât to say that Fields canât go through progressions, make complex reads, or handle adversity. We have seen him do it. He just hasnât been asked to do it a lot, and that, along with his performances against higher competition (Northwestern 2020, Indiana 2020, etc.) has caused there to be a certain level of concern with him.
I have Fields as my QB3, but itâs closer to QB2b. Like Zach Wilson, Justin Fields is a boom or bust prospect with sky-high potential, especially with his athletic ability. However, I personally believe that he would be best suited going to a team like San Francisco, Atlanta, or New England, where he can sit behind an established veteran quarterback for one year and let the game slow down for him.
NFL comparison: I think at his absolute best, I believe Justin will be a hybrid of Deshaun Watson and Ben Roethlisberger. Donovan McNabb, Russell Wilson, or Dak Prescott are three other comparisons Iâve seen thrown out there and, personally, I think those are good too. At his worst, I see a guy who will consistently flash talent, particularly his athletic abilities, but who never takes that next step. Some names I can think of are Colin Kaepernick, current day Cam Newton, and the Harbaugh-era Alex Smith. Yes sticklers, I am aware that using Smith in back-to-back comparisons is a little…boring. However, Smith is a guy who had two unique highs and lows, that happen to apply to 2 of these prospects âworst caseâ scenarios, who happen to compare well to each other more than most people realize, so itâs not too unconventional.
NFL draft prediction: 4th overall pick, Atlanta Falcons.
Source: @ndagraphics on Instagram.
⢠Trey Lance | QB | North Dakota State University – Every draft class, a prospect comes along with every single physical tool you could possibly imagine if you were forced to draw up the perfect QB. This year is no different and that prospect is NDSUâs very own Trey Lance. Lance stands tall at 6 foot 3 7/8 inches, and is a rock solid 224lbs. He has a cannon for an arm, great speed and athletic ability for his size, played in a pro-style system that included complicated reads, and has good mechanics. âSo what gives Nick? We just went through this with Justin Fields. What is the problem here?â you might say. Well, much like everything else in the last year and change, the college football world was heavily rocked by COVID-19. Entering this year as my QB2, Lance was hurt more by the epidemic as any player I can think of. NDSU only scheduled one game in the fall due to the pandemic, which served as the only âshowcaseâ game for Lance and many of the other NFL caliber prospects on their roster, as the rest of their season would be played this spring and these aforementioned players would have had to declare for the NFL draft well before then. This means that Trey has not played in an organized football game since October 3rd, 2020. If he already had 3 established seasons under his belt, this wouldnât be too much of an issue. However, before the showcase, Lance had only 16 starts under his belt. In those starts he excelled, throwing for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns on 287 attempts while completing 66.9% of his passes and tossing zero, yes zero, interceptions. Lance also flashed as a runner, compiling 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, while averaging a whopping 6.5 yards per carry. It was as dominant of a season as anyone could have and Lance seemed destined for greatness. However, his stock would take an abrupt turn because in his one chance to show off, he was incredibly inconsistent and many scouts were left feeling as if maybe he was leaving school too early. Fast forward to today and his stock seems to be on the rise once again after not one, but two great pro days.
Trey Lance needs time. There is no sugar coating it. He is, without a doubt, the rawest quarterback in this group of guys, and if he forced to start right away, it might get really messy, really fast. Like Justin Fields, he is best suited going to a team with a guy already in place that he can sit behind for a year, maybe two, and develop. Some teams that immediately come to mind in terms of fit are San Francisco, Atlanta, New England, and Washington.
NFL comparison: This one might be the easiest for me. When I watch Lance, I see a guy who plays like, and can be like, the 2015 MVP Cam Newton or the 2020 version of Josh Allen. A dynamic player, who is an absolute freak of nature with all the dominant physical tools at his disposal. That being said, any team who rushes his development can expect to get a player closer to someone like Vince Young than MVP winners and candidates.
NFL draft prediction: 3rd overall pick, San Francisco 49ers.
Source: @ryanawdesign/@swapkingdom on Instagram.
⢠Mac Jones | QB | Alabama – Here we are folks. The end of the show. Weâll be wrapping up with a guy who seemingly went from overrated, to underrated, back to overrated in the eyes of the media, analysts, and fans. Iâm, of course, talking about Mac Jones, the latest signal caller from Alabama. With an absolute abundance of weapons at his disposal, Jones took the Crimson Tideâs offense to new heights and a National Championship, ultimately winning the title against Justin Fieldsâs Ohio State Buckeyes. Therein lies the big issue with Mac and every other quarterback that has come out of Tuscaloosa recently. How much of it is him? Jones is not particularly tall or athletic, coming in at 6 foot 1 4/8 inches, 230 pounds, with a pedestrian 4.72 second 40-yard dash. He can move within the pocket and roll out well, but isnât really a threat to run in the open field. His arm talent is a little bit better than âokâ, but nothing to write home about. He is a very accurate passer who has pretty good ball placement, but there was, arguably, no team in college football more stacked than Alabama. So Mac simply operates the offense. He doesnât âcreateâ like the other quarterbacks in this class. Ten years ago that wouldnât be a knock on anyone. However, a lot has changed in the last decade and the NFL has shifted more towards guys who can do more at the most important position in football.
I think the consensus opinion, which I also share, is that Mac Jones is a quarterback who is limited in what he can do. Heâs not going to rush for 50 yards per game while throwing for 250. He is a classic drop back passer who will, at worst, manage the game for you. This makes him a relatively safe prospect…so long as you arenât picking him in the top 15.
NFL comparison: If Mac Jones managed to reach his full potential, Matt Ryan or Chad Pennington would be great comparisons for him. When I try and come up with a âdoomsdayâ scenario for him, I keep coming back to another former Alabama quarterback. AJ McCarron. I think heâll end up being something in between that and carve out a decent career for himself, but I donât know if he ever lives up to his draft slot, given how high he is being projected by other outlets.
NFL draft prediction: 15th overall pick, New England Patriots.
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