Expectations.
Zach Wilson knows all about expectations.
And the pressure that comes with them.
That’s why he can have a huge impact on the Broncos’ upcoming season, whether or not he plays a single down once practice games are past.
This Wilson, remember, was the second overall pick—SECOND—in 2021, behind only Trevor Lawrence and ahead of Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati’s sensational wide receiver; NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons of Dallas; and Denver’s own Patrick Surtain II, considered one of the league’s top cornerbacks; among others.
He was chosen by the New York Jets—NEW YORK, the largest resident fan base in sports; the JETS, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2010 and have had only one winning season in the last 13 years!
Talk about expectations and pressure.
He would be among the first to admit that his play never rose to the level that impatient Jets fans thought it should—or that he thought it would.
In three seasons, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns, and the team lost more games than it won.
His Quarterback Rating was below 40 each season, and his three-year completion rate just 57%.
Most importantly as he begins his first preseason in Orange and Blue, he heard the boos of an unfriendly home stadium that expected better, and he felt the sting of an unforgiving sports-media market that is the nation’s largest by far.
The Denver media isn’t the Big Apple’s, but the fans are at least as rabid. So, Bo Nix will encounter something similar if he turns out to be the second coming of Drew Lock or Paxton Lynch instead of the next John Elway or Payton Manning.
As full-squad camp commences tomorrow, Wilson (Can you believe we’re talking about a quarterback named Wilson again in 2024?) could turn out to be Denver’s starting quarterback come September 8 in Seattle. But more likely, he’ll be the scout team’s regular signal-caller.
Either way, he’s part of the biggest story of the hot and sweaty summer-workouts—that is, who will be Sean Payton’s starting quarterback: incumbent Jarrett Stidham, every fan’s great hope, Nix, or the new Wilson?
Several NFL talent evaluators say the Jets’ bust has the liveliest arm of Denver’s three possible starting quarterbacks and can make more of the various throws a passer might be asked to make than either of them.
And Broncos head coach Sean Payton said after acquiring him: “I like his experience. You can tell he’s played.”
Thus, there’s a chance he could surprise a friendlier environment, or at least one he’s better prepared to handle.
To be exact, Wilson has 33 NFL starts under his belt, compared to four for Stidham and, of course, zero for Nix, who, said some “experts,” was a reach as the 12th pick in this year’s National Football League Draft.
But, while Wilson may have the most NFL experience and Stidham begins as the incumbent, Nix arrives having played 61 college games, which is way more than either Wilson (30) or Stidham (37).
To this point, the 49ers’ brain trust has said that Brock Purdy succeeded, in part, despite being the last player taken in the 2022 draft (making him that year’s Mr. Irrelevant) because he had four full years of college growth. (He played in 48 games.)
This is what makes those games against the Colts, Packers and Cardinals—to be played before wins and losses start counting—more significant than the tune-ups of summers past.
In the eight years since Peyton Manning last lined up under center for Denver, the Broncos have started 13 quarterbacks: Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, Lynch, Case Keenum, Flacco, Lock, Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien, Philip Lindsay, Teddy Bridgewater, Russell Wilson and Stidham.
Virtually all of them endured their share of catcalls and other cruel expressions of disapproval when their play fell short in the eyes of disappointed hopefuls.
The excitement about Bo Nix will wane quickly if his play out of the gate doesn’t compare favorably with Elway or Manning (in their prime, not during rookie struggles).
And if that happens, he’ll need someone to tell him how to handle unmet expectations.
Soon to be 25, Zach Wilson’s a bit young to be a mentor, especially to someone born less than seven months after him.
But he can be a good teammate, one who bolsters sagging confidence if needed.
Denny Dressman is a veteran of 43 years in the newspaper business, including 25 at the Rocky Mountain News, where he began as executive sports editor. He is the author of 16 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at denny
dressman@comcast.net.