Great points Jookie.
Is Zach Wilson a top 5 overall talent and the top 2 QB of 2021? Absolutely. But was he ready given the team? I have my doubts.
The Jets have been the worst drafting team of the past decade. Since Joe Douglas has been onboard, things are a little better. On paper, it looks like it should actually work:
-Jets hired Saleh, who's been one of the highest-rated HC candidates that last two cycles
-Some solid draft picks the last two years
-Brought in an actually good set of receivers (Davis, Mims, Crowder, Moore, and Cole is a good set)
-Defense has potential but a lot of injuries (not really anyone's fault)
-Two first-round picks and two second-round picks next year
It looks great! Jets are making progress!
Except.....
The problem is that it's a rookie QB, rookie HC, and rookie OC. An experienced QB coach that was brought in, Greg Knapp, tragically passed away in the summer. The Jets inexplicably didn't bring in a veteran in the summer.
Wilson has all the traits of a gunslinger coming out of college. And that's fine. They'll have to deal with:
-Speed of the NFL (see Broncos' Simmons INT against Wilson)
-Skill of the defenders (see Jackson's INT against Wilson)
-Decision-making
Some learn by playing, and some learn by sitting. But Wilson's talent is in his ability to make the big throws. You don't draft someone like him to throw short passes all game. However, you have to balance it. In the end, the best NFL QBs learn when to take their shots and when to play it safe. The best QBs tend to be the most accurate on short/intermediate throws (timing-based) rather than the deep balls (if you identify 1-on-1s, you don't have to make the perfect throw, just enough to give your WR a chance). The timing on the shorter throws is how you move the chains. The ability to take what the defense gives and ability to throw the ball away to avoid sacks/grounding is how you keep things moving. Just about every Wilson highlight has been him being on the move and throwing on the run with off-platform throws. But at the same time, he's been inaccurate on short passes in the pocket and even screens (those are drive-killers).
Whether or not he sits or plays, the coaching staff and QB room have to work with him on these things. How things play out the remainder of this year (when he's back healthy) will be very interesting indeed.
In the end, Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh, and the rest will be judged on how they develop Wilson.
Douglas hit on Becton last year. He hit on Vera-Tucker this year. Moore is good value. Hall is good value. Carter (both of them) is good value. The Jets are actually incredibly lucky: they got a top 3 pick in a loaded QB class (with another first rounder in there) and will have 4 picks in the first two rounds next year when they don't need QB and have needs at places like guard, TE, LB, Safety, etc. It actually won't be difficult to be in position to continue to build talent. They should have decent cap space next year also.
Honestly probably best for Wilson to sit a few weeks with the injury and see if the coaching staff can improve. Give a few more games for the HC to work with the OL, WRs, etc to get going before getting Wilson back in there.
Douglas, Saleh, etc. No matter how many league insiders talk up these guys, all of it is for nothing if Wilson doesn't develop.
