2021 NFL Draft: Zach Wilson is becoming this year’s Joe Burrow
Zach Wilson is quickly becoming the Joe Burrow of the 2021 NFL Draft class.
The 2021 NFL Draft class is shaping up to have an impressive group of players at the quarterback position. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence is the clear top prospect in the class, followed closely by Justin Fields out of Ohio State and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. There once seemed to be a wide gap between those three quarterbacks and the rest of the class, but BYU’s Zach Wilson seems to be closing it quickly.
After his dominant performance against Boise State on Friday night, Wilson has completed 75% of his passes for 2,511 yards, 21 touchdowns and only two interceptions on the year. He has also been a productive rushing threat, piling up up eight rushing touchdowns through the first eight games of the season.
Wilson has been absolutely incredible this season, leading the ninth-ranked Cougars to an 8-0 start. He is leading one of the most dynamic offensive attacks in the nation and has undoubtedly taken his 2021 NFL Draft stock to the next level this season. At this point, Wilson feels like a fair bet to be a first-round selection and could easily rise into the conversation with the top guys in the class.
Wilson has not been doing this damage against the best teams in college football and many will question his ability to perform this well against a higher level of competition. That being said, if you watch Wilson play, it is obvious that he has an impressive natural skill-set at the quarterback position. Scout the player, not the competition.
Zach Wilson’s skills consistently shine through
An impressive playmaker with the ball in his hands, Wilson senses pressure in the pocket extremely well and has the athleticism needed to escape and create with his legs. He is a fantastic improviser who does a great job of keeping his eyes down the field and looking for the big play. Wilson also throws the ball on the run at an extremely high level.
On top of that, Wilson shows impressive natural arm talent, showing the ability to place the ball with accuracy from unique arm angles and hit receivers in stride at all three levels. He has enough arm to hit any NFL throw and can fit the ball into tight spaces with velocity and impressive ball placement.
Simply put, Wilson is an impressive playmaker who undoubtedly has massive upside at the next level. His ability to improvise and create as both a runner and passer makes Wilson a fantastic fit for the modern NFL and teams are going to put a high value on him in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Starting with Baker Mayfield in 2018 and followed by Kyler Murray in 2019 and Joe Burrow in 2020, we have watched quarterbacks go from fringe prospects to first overall picks in each of the last three drafts. While it is incredibly unlikely that Wilson can unseat Lawrence as the top quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft class, his rise seems similar to Burrow’s from last season. Landing in the top three is certainly not out of the question.
Zach Wilson scouting report. light. Related Story
When it comes down to it, Wilson is an extremely talented quarterback prospect who fits the modern NFL extremely well. A massive rise to number one like Burrow is not going to happen, but that is mostly due to the strength of this quarterback class. Wilson is a high-level quarterback prospect who will undoubtedly have plenty of suitors at the top of the draft.