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The 2021 NFL Draft shows just how tricky finding a franchise quarterback can be. It’s also a warning to teams jumping on the bandwagon for the hot quarterback prospect of the moment. Five quarterbacks went in those first 15 picks, and each one had their passionate supporters claiming they’d be the cream of the crop.
Fast forward four years and Trevor Lawrence stands alone — he’s the only QB from that group still with the team that drafted him. Justin Fields flashed potential in Chicago but couldn’t develop consistent passing skills. Mac Jones looked promising as a Patriots rookie before his play fell off a cliff. And those second and third overall picks? Zach Wilson and Trey Lance crashed and burned almost immediately.
The New York Jets grabbed Wilson at No. 2 overall after a single throw at his Pro Day went viral and sent his draft stock soaring. Their regret set in quickly. The Jets learned the hard way that highlight-reel throws in practice don’t translate to NFL success.
Jets owner Woody Johnson apparently forgot his own quarterback draft pick
After enduring the Wilson experience and then the Aaron Rodgers injury saga, the Jets are trying to move forward. They signed Fields this offseason, and owner Woody Johnson seems to have completely erased Wilson from his memory banks while talking about his new quarterback.
“I think Justin Fields is going to be a total winner for us,” Johnson told reporters, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I’ve been impressed with him since his college days — it was [Fields] or Trevor Lawrence — and I think he’s going to be really good.”
Wait, what? If the Jets were so high on Fields, they could’ve just taken him at No. 2 instead of Wilson.
This isn’t just a simple slip-up. Johnson likely doesn’t even remember when his team drafted Wilson. After all, this is the same owner who reportedly used the “Madden NFL” video game to evaluate talent. Johnson’s chaotic leadership in New York has been a major factor in the team’s constant struggles — it’s pretty clear his commitment to understanding the team’s operations is minimal at best.
Wilson’s NFL career has been rough. In 34 games, he completed just 57% of his passes, throwing for 6,293 yards with 23 TDs and 25 INTs. He added 498 yards and 5 scores on the ground. His 12-21 record (.363) as a starter is ugly, but it’s hard to say how much blame falls on him versus the Jets’ organizational dysfunction. He spent 2024 backing up in Denver and has now signed with the Miami Dolphins.
At this point, seeing Wilson succeed might actually be less shocking than watching the Jets turn things around with Fields.
Former Jets QBs have a history of career resurrection elsewhere. Geno Smith overcame the damage from his Jets tenure to thrive in Seattle. Sam Darnold rebuilt his career as a backup in San Francisco before leading the Minnesota Vikings to an impressive 14-3 record in 2024. The Jets quarterback graveyard continues to haunt the franchise while its former passers find new life elsewhere.
