06 June 2023 , 22:46
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Zach Wilson's red zone struggles could have been why the New York Jets signed Aaron Rodgers in April. During OTA practice, Wilson completed 2 out of 4 passes, with zero touchdowns for the day. Contrarily, Rodgers left energised NFL fans and the coaching staff in awe after connecting with Garrett Wilson on an over-the-shoulder throw that resulted in a score.
While the sample size of a single OTA practice isn't enough to grade Wilson's progress, his inconsistencies at the quarterback position throughout his two-year NFL career have found him in and out of the plans with the Jets.
As things currently stand, the former second overall pick has maintained a less than stellar 70.9 quarterback rating, with a 55.5 completion percentage. Although Rodgers is coming off a less-than-impressive season compared to previous years, his ability to accurately push the ball down the field will pay dividends in a new-look Jets offence, who have compiled a young core of promising and speedy wide receivers.
In the NFL world, few quarterbacks can match the natural skill and talent of Rodgers. In the regular season, the former Green Bay Packers gunslinger actively holds records for the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history at 4.52, has the league's lowest career interception percentage at 1.4 per cent and the highest single-season passer rating record of 122.5 according to F ootball Reference.
While Wilson still has the youth to be considered a prospect, the appointment of Rodgers vastly updates the Jets at the QB position in several key categories.
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Rodgers holds the edge of knowledge by a wide margin, with two decades of NFL experience to Wilson's two. He's faced every challenging defensive scheme and several Hall of Fame defensive players and has risen to the occasion of brilliance more times than not.
Zach Wilson takes OTA snaps as Aaron Rodgers prepares for the upcoming NFL season. (Getty Images)He also possesses leadership qualities that inspire an entire roster. Before the offseason activities began, Rodgers had already established s ignature handshakes with teammates, increasing the camaraderie in the locker room. Now pair that with his status as an active legend in the league, it's easy to see why Rodgers can have fun with his teammates yet hold them accountable as they continue to grow into playoff contenders.
Wilson hasn't had the chance to develop into a trusted leader fully. However, he's also yet to demonstrate the same level of rallying the troops with the experience of Rodgers.
While Wilson has the potential to grow into a starter, when it comes to skill and talent, there is no active QB in the class of Rodgers. With his extensive experience, athleticism, and leadership skills, Rodgers is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.
If Wilson wants to follow in those footsteps, he'll either have to grow as an understudy or find a team who is willing to take a risk on his untapped talent.