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Joe Namath isn’t convinced Zach Wilson will cut it in New York.
The legendary Jets quarterback wants to see more from Wilson – as well as his supporting cast – before passing final judgment on the 2021 second overall pick.
“I think there’s a side of school that’s still out,” Namath said on The Michael Kay Show. “We’ve got to see more. But the other thing is – I know it takes a group. Zach couldn’t perform at his best for a couple of reasons. He’s not there yet, certainly, and it was new for him and his team is not that solid. He needs more help around him. With help around him, it’s amazing how much better a guy can play.”
Wilson’s rookie season started off poorly with a league-leading nine interceptions and a 57.46 completion percentage through the first seven weeks. A mid-season knee injury then forced him to miss four games. Wilson came back and only tossed two interceptions over the final seven games and scored nine total touchdowns.
Namath did see some impressive traits in Wilson – particularly his arm strength and mobility outside the pocket – but didn’t sound too convinced his 6-foot-2, 214-pound frame will hold up in the NFL.
“I like him, but I don’t know how long he’s going to last,” Namath said. “You’d like for a guy to be 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7 back there in the pocket. School’s still out on how Zach’s going to do.”
Now, that comment about Wilson’s height doesn’t make much sense, especially since Namath himself was only 6-foot-2, 200 pounds during his playing days. There have only been 29 quarterbacks in the NFL since 1920 who stand at least 6-foot-6 and only 13 have started at least 20 NFL games. One of those quarterbacks is, coincidentally, Joe Flacco, but the list also includes players like JaMarcus Russell, Mike Glennon and Josh Freeman – not exactly a Hall of Fame class.
But Wilson doesn’t have a huge frame, and he was the most pressured quarterback in 2021 and took 44 sacks. No one can take that many hits on a consistent basis and expect to develop properly, and it’s why it’s even more important for Joe Douglas to build a better offensive line. Wilson can succeed despite his smaller stature, so long as he has the support system around him.
Namath also shouldn’t be convinced Wilson is good yet – because the Jets quarterback hasn’t proven himself to be anything yet. Wilson’s numbers were among the worst in the league last year and the Jets offense ranked lowly in almost every statistic.
This offseason will be crucial for Wilson’s development. Maybe after another season, Namath will make up his mind.
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