Zach Wilson, a 6-foot-2-inch 214-pound quarterback, hails from Draper, Utah and plays for the Denver Broncos as of 2024. He attended Corner Canyon High School where he began his football journey. From 2018-2020, he opted for Brigham Young University and had an outstanding college football career, recording a total of 837 carries for 7,652 passing yards and 56 touchdowns in three seasons (30 games), forgoing his senior year for the 2021 NFL Draft. He was the highest draft pick from BYU, picked second overall by the New York Jets.
In the 2022 season, he was regarded as one of the worst quarterbacks in the National Football League. He has had a terrible start to his career, losing 18 of his 25 starts and having a passer rating of 65.2. Wilson has passed 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in his three NFL seasons. In April 2024, he was traded to the Denver Broncos for a sixth-round pick.
Zach Wilson Draft: Year, Date, Round, and Pick Number
Draft Year | Round | Pick Number | NFL Team | Position | College | Conference (College) |
2021 | 1 | 2 | New York Jets | Quarterback | Brigham Young University, Utah | NA (Now Big-12) |
Wilson’s father, Mike, was the defensive tackle at Utah under head coach Kyle Whittingham, but the team had already recruited a quarterback for the 2018 class. Instead, Wilson chose to join the arch-rivals BYU and started seven of nine games as a true freshman. While he missed significant time in 2019, Wilson had a breakout season in 2020 that earned him co-honors for the Polynesian Player of the Year Award. The co-winner was USC Safety, Talanoa Hufanga.
How old was Zach Wilson when he went to the NFL?
Zach Wilson was 21 years old when he got drafted by the New York Jets. As just the second pick in the draft, the Jets pinned a ton of hopes on the Utah product as the savior of the franchise. His placement made him the highest-drafted player ever out of BYU. In his 2020 campaign, Wilson was phenomenal. While he ranked second in completion percentage, even more impressive were his 33 passing touchdowns against just three interceptions.
Who was the New York Jets QB before Zach Wilson?
After 7 straight seasons of missing the playoffs, the New York Jets pinned their hopes on Sam Darnold in the 2018 NFL Draft. The third overall pick was considered New York’s savior. However, inconsistent play and injury eventually led to the Jets trading him to the Carolina Panthers for draft capital. During his 3 seasons, the Jets won 4, 7, and 2 games, respectively. After showing flashes of brilliance in his rookie season, Darnold couldn’t maintain or improve upon his standard.
FAQs on Zach Wilson
A. Throughout his career, Zach Wilson has a 12-21 record as a starter as of the end of the 2023 season.
A. Zach Wilson is listed as 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) tall.
A. He won the Polynesian Football Player of the Year during his college years but has not accomplished much in the NFL.
A. Zach Wilson's parents are Mike and Lisa Wilson.
A. Zach Wilson has thrown 25 picks with the New York Jets until 2023.