Former NFL GM: Zach Wilson ‘Clearly Ahead’ Of Justin Fields For No. 2 Pick

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former NFL general manager and current NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly said he’d select BYU quarterback Zach Wilson ahead of Ohio State’s Justin Fields if he were picking a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The New York Jets currently own the second overall selection in April’s NFL Draft. Many football experts project the Jets to pick Wilson over Fields, including Casserly.

“I’m gonna go with the BYU guy, Wilson,” Casserly said on NFL Network. “I have him clearly ahead of Justin Fields of Ohio State. Field vision, that’s the one thing that jumps out to me when I watched the tape. I think he’s a better prospect coming out of college than Daniel Jones (New York Giants quarterback) and Tua [Tagovailoa] (Miami Dolphins quarterback).

My thoughts on QB Zach Wilson of @BYUfootball @BYU @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/45wMthHkYl

— Charley Casserly (@CharleyCasserly) February 11, 2021

The former NFL executive listed the following as reasons why he liked Wilson’s game: feel, vision, accuracy, knowing where to go with the football, arm is good enough, very athletic, and can plays outside the pocket.

Although Casserly likes Wilson, he did mention BYU’s strength of schedule in 2020 and the former Cougar gunslinger’s height as potential question marks for NFL teams.

“He’s really had one year of a high level of competition, when they played a weak schedule, that’s not his fault about the schedule, but that’s the reality,” Casserly noted. “I don’t think he’s the biggest body in the world, though, you know he is over six-foot, got estimated at six two. So you’re not talking about a Russell Wilson height or a Drew Brees, but hey, they’re like going to the Hall of Fame.”

Zach Wilson vs. Justin Fields

Both Wilson and Fields are entering the 2021 NFL Draft following excellent junior seasons. Each player was their team’s starting quarterback for the past couple of seasons. Wilson played three years at BYU. Fields played one season at Georgia before transferring and playing at Ohio State for his sophomore and junior campaigns.

While everyone debates which QB out of Zach Wilson or Justin Fields goes higher in the #NFLDraft, the two star prospects are training together.#BYU #GoCougs #OhioState #GoBuckeyes https://t.co/xq3VSHz2Kp

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 11, 2021

Class

Wilson: Junior

Fields: Junior

Height

Wilson: 6’ 3”

Fields: 6’ 3”

Weight

Wilson: 210 lbs

Fields: 228 lbs

2020 Record

Wilson: 11-1

Fields: 7-1

2020 Passing Yards

Wilson: 3,692

Fields: 2,100

2020 Passing Touchdowns

Wilson: 33

Fields: 22

2020 Interceptions

Wilson: 3

Fields: 6

2020 Rushing Yards

Wilson: 254

Fields: 383

2020 Rushing Touchdowns

Wilson: 10

Fields: 5

Career Record (including non-starts)

Wilson: 20-10

Fields: 30-4

Career Passing Yards

Wilson: 7,652

Fields: 5,701

Career Passing Touchdowns

Wilson: 56

Fields: 67

Career Interceptions

Wilson: 15

Fields: 9

Career Completion Rate

Wilson: 67.6

Fields: 68.4

Career Rushing Yards

Wilson: 642

Fields: 1,133

Career Rushing Touchdowns

Wilson: 15

Fields: 19

Career Awards

Wilson: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl MVP (2018), SoFi Hawaii Bowl MVP for BYU (2019), Boca Raton Bowl Offensive MVP (2020), finished in the top ten in Heisman Trophy voting (2020)

CRITICS: Zach Wilson isn't an NFL quarterback!

Zack Wilson: *shows them video of this*#BYUFootball #BYU @kslsports pic.twitter.com/kubPWzItmG

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 25, 2020

Fields: Heisman Trophy finalist (2019), Two-time Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year, Two-time Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year, Second team All-American (2019), First team All-Big Ten (2019, 2020), Big Ten Champion (2019, 2020), Big Ten Championship MVP (2019), 2021 Chicago Tribune Silver Football

😤 @OhioStateFB QB @Justnfields is bringing some serious talent to the NFL pic.twitter.com/WiDSfJHaRC

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 18, 2021

Wilson and Fields are currently training together in Southern California in preparation of the 2021 NFL Draft.

About Charley Casserly

Casserly is a former NFL executive and three-time Super Bowl champion. Before becoming an television analyst, he served as Washington’s assistant general manager from 1982-89 and general manager from 1989-1999. After his time in Washington, Casserly was the general manager for the league’s newest team in the Houston Texans. He was the Texans’ GM from 2002-05. Casserly currently works as an analyst for NFL Network.

Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).