New York Jets embracing future with young quarterback
The New York Jets are going to take a rookie quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, and they’re embracing their future.
It’s time to turn over a new leaf with the New York Jets. Yes, another one.
Out are head coach Adam Gase and quarterback Sam Darnold. In is Gase’s replacement, Robert Saleh, and soon enough, BYU’s Zach Wilson to replace Darnold.
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In just four months, the Jets have revamped their power structure and added to their roster with a few key free agency additions in edge rusher Carl Lawson and receiver Corey Davis. Now, with the NFL Draft in a week, the team is closing in on a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick, almost certainly to be Wilson.
For his part, Saleh is embracing the challenge of rolling with a rookie quarterback in his maiden voyage, per NFL.com:
“I don’t think there’s risk. It still comes down to having a good football team and building a good roster around everybody. There’s players here that are talented, there’s rookies that are talented. The expectation is that they’re 1 of 53 when it’s all said and done and they’ve all got to perform their best to create a great football team.
“So as far as pressure is concerned, there’s no pressure on me. There’s always pressure. There’s always pressure to put together the best football team we possibly can regardless of who’s playing. I’m very comfortable with every decision that’s made and it’s our job to put him in the best position to be successful. And not just the quarterback, but every single player that takes the field.”
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Saleh is bang on. The Jets have to find their next quarterback and going the route of retread is almost always a dead end — just ask the Chicago Bears or the pre-Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs.
Wilson is coming from a successful program in BYU where he threw for 3,692 yards and 33 touchdowns against three interceptions as a junior in 12 games. All told, Wilson played 30 games with the Cougars, giving him far more experience at the collegiate level than Darnold or former Jets flop Mark Sanchez ever had.
New York will have growing pains in the coming year, but if Wilson is the right man to turn around Gang Green, Saleh has every reason to be patient and not worry while things work themselves out.
