X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Zach Wilson - 2021 NFL Draft Prospect Profile

Andrew Lalama breaks down the skillset of BYU QB Zach Wilson before the 2021 NFL draft to assess his fantasy football value in redraft and dynasty leagues.

The NFL Draft Prospect Profile Series features prominent 2021 NFL Draft prospects with film analysis and scouting insights. I have experience working in college football and have been studying the NFL Draft for over 15 years. My analysis is based on film study and analytics.

A common misconception about the NFL Draft is that the college and pro games are very similar. They are not. Besides the obvious difference in speed and skill level, a college field has different hash mark distances and different rules. There are specific schemes and plays that NFL teams copy from college and vice versa. But the differences between the two are understated in NFL Draft coverage. There's a reason many highly-productive college players are not considered legitimate professionals.

To that end, scouting prospects is not about evaluating college performance, it’s about projecting traits that translate to the next level. This is not limited to just physical traits. There are certain football traits that are evident in college film and will translate to the pro game. For example, a wide receiver being able to get in and out of breaks efficiently will not change from college to pro. On the flip side, an edge rusher who got most of his sacks due to hustle or missed offensive line assignments may not have shown translatable traits on film. We will continue our draft coverage this year with another special QB in Zach Wilson of BYU.

Editor's Note: Explore RotoBaller’s Dynasty Fantasy Football hub for year-round dynasty rankings, trade tips, rookie analysis, and long-term player outlooks. Dominate your league with our sleepers, stash targets, and dynasty draft advice. Click here for Dynasty rankings and strategy.

 

Zach Wilson: Profile

Zach Wilson is one of the hottest names in draft circles right now, and for good reason. The 6-2, 210-pound star QB just led BYU to an 11-1 season, capped off by a dominant 49-23 win against a pretty good UCF team in the Boca Raton Bowl. Wilson was brilliant all year, throwing for 3692 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just three interceptions on a 73.5 completion percentage. QB late-risers coming out of nowhere have become the norm in recent years, as Wilson is this year's version of Joe Burrow. As a sophomore in 2019, Wilson threw just 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions on 62.4% completions. How did he improve so much? Apparently, by grinding during the pandemic last spring. It also probably helped that he was even further removed from shoulder surgery in 2019.

Wilson has leapfrogged Justin Fields on many internet draft boards, but his ultimate draft fate has yet to be determined. He's currently the Vegas favorite to be drafted second overall. In my view, any ranking of the top-four signal-callers in this class is acceptable, as all four have the traits of first-overall picks. I do believe this is the best top-5 in the history of QB draft classes.  Zach Wilson is worth the hype, but the margin between all of these signal-callers is razor thin for me. For now, I rank Wilson a hair below my QB2 Trey Lance, and just slightly ahead of Justin Fields.

 

Arm Talent (Not Just Arm Strength)

Wilson's most impressive trait is his whippy arm. He is the quintessential gunslinger in the sense that he can throw from all different arm angles and platforms. He is creative and instinctive on second-reaction plays, can throw on the run, and has a quick release.

When you hear the term "arm talent" sometimes, it's being used as a synonym for "arm strength." In the clip below, Wilson shows off his arm strength on a 60-yard bomb.

But arm strength is not just about the deep ball. In the clip below, Wilson checks the boundary, comes back to his receiver over the middle, steps up in the pocket, and delivers a high-velocity strike. Watch closely at the receivers' hands jolt back as the ball hits his gloves. This is special arm strength.

But arm talent is not just about velocity or pass length. In the clip below, Wilson showcases his creativity out of the pocket with a jumping cross-body laser in the face of pressure that's just absurd.

Wilson is instinctive in terms of manipulating the pocket, but to be fair, he did have unrealistically amazing pocket thanks to a stellar BYU offensive line on most reps. He took sacks against better opponents, but nothing on his film suggests that he will cave under pressure. His accuracy, ball placement, and instinctive ability to deliver the ball like a point guard give him franchise-changing upside as a second-reaction passer. The clip below shows him work all the way back to a backside dig in the face of a DT, step up, and deliver an accurate strike.

Another example of arm talent is being able to place the ball on time with velocity. In the clip below, Wilson places the short hitch route on the outside shoulder to complete the pass in the end zone. The deep balls are nice, but these placements are the types of throws that are underrated when talking about arm talent.

 

All About His Mental

Zach Wilson can make basically any throw. He has enough athleticism to escape trouble and even gain some yards with his legs (15 career rushing touchdowns). There have been murmurs about his personality and some smoke about him not being a captain, but many sources discounting any negative claims about his intangibles. Sticking to the film, his toughness is actually a plus, as I saw him get a block on a reverse against Louisiana Tech and come back firing after taking a brutal beating at the end of the first half against Coastal Carolina.

While psycho-analyzing QB prospects from the outside seems like a fool's errand, I try to evaluate the film to make connections. Jameis Winston has made questionable off-field decisions in the past, and his questionable decision-making was also evident on film as a draft prospect. He basically refused to check down at Florida State, and those bad habits have hurt him as a pro. I was right as one of the lone voices picking Winston to bust. To be clear, I do prefer my QB prospects are captains, but I do not see anything on Zach Wilson's film that gives me pause about his intangibles.

However, his decision-making is not impeccable. Wilson knows he can fit balls in where few others can. Some of those tight-window throws are going to picked as he learns the difference between college and pro defensive backs. Is it a negative that he plays with so much confidence? Only if he doesn't learn from early-career mistakes.

My main critique of Wilson is his tendency to miss zone defenders, especially in mixed coverages with lurk or robber-free players. Even against match coverages, Wilson at times will see his receiver beat his initial man, and deliver a ball with no understanding of the next zone over. In the clip below, the slot receiver runs a shallow cross, beating the mike across his face.  The nickel is waiting in the next window, but Wilson throws it anyway, allowing his teammate to get crushed.

Wilson carved up man coverage against Houston, but there were too many instances on film against other teams where he would miss additional robber defenders, leading to hospital balls. The clip below shows Wilson read man coverage, see his receiver win, and ignore the post safety.

Yes, the receiver made the catch. Yes, it's an example of arm talent, a quick release, and trust in his teammates. But there are too many instances on the film of putting his receivers in tough positions.

There are a bunch of reasons that QBs bust. Traits-wise, Zach Wilson has everything. But if he stays healthy and fails, it will likely be due to the mental aspect of the game. The good news is that he showed improvement as he took command of the BYU offense, and has a quick-enough internal clock.

 

NFL Outlook

Zach Wilson is as exciting an arm talent as we've seen in the past decade. I've refrained from mentioning Patrick Mahomes so far, but it's hard not to notice similarities in their arms, creativity, and physical measurables. Mahomes has obviously been an exceptional pro, but he has had some issues dealing with injuries. With his smallish frame, lack of physical strength, and propensity to take some hits given his style, Wilson does carry some durability risk. Not to mention a shoulder injury that plagued him earlier in his career. With that said, he has the upside to develop into a franchise QB depending on the situation he's drafted to.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more prospect profiles and other NFL Draft content.

Read past Prospect Profiles here:

Trevor Lawrence - QB, Clemson

Trey Lance - QB, North Dakota State

Justin Fields - QB, Ohio State



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More NFL Rookie Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jauan Jennings

Seeking New Deal or Trade From 49ers
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
NHL

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
A.J. Dillon

Not a Lock for a Roster Spot?
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Boston Celtics

Damian Lillard Drawing Interest from the Celtics
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Kyle Stowers

Punishes Former Team with Three-Homer Game
St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Select Liam Doyle with Fifth Overall Pick
Daniel Gafford

Agrees to Contract Extension with Dallas
Colorado Rockies

Rockies Select Ethan Holliday Fourth Overall
Seattle Mariners

Kade Anderson Selected Third Overall by Seattle
Ha-Seong Kim

X-rays on Ha-Seong Kim's Foot Come Back Negative
Los Angeles Angels

Tyler Bremner Selected Second Overall by Angels in 2025 MLB Draft
Washington Nationals

Nationals Select Eli Willits First Overall
Jake Meyers

to Miss More Than Three Weeks With Calf Injury
Cooper Flagg

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
LeBron James

Hasn't Requested a Trade
Quinshon Judkins

Following Quinshon Judkins Arrest, NFL Declines Comment
Travis Hunter

Earning Praise in Jaguars Camp for Work Ethic
Memphis Grizzlies

Cole Anthony, Grizzlies Agree to Contract Buyout
Edward Cabrera

Hopeful to Avoid Injured List
Oneil Cruz

Absent on Sunday
Lars Nootbaar

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Jake Burger

Scratched on Sunday
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Back in Action on Sunday
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Julius Chestnut

Kalel Mullings Competing for RB3 Role
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
Kimani Vidal

Fighting for No. 3 Job
Cam Hart

Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
Quentin Johnston

Might Not Get Many Chances to Prove Himself
Tre Harris

Officially a Holdout
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. Should Move Up on Sunday
Ross Chastain

is a Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Josh Berry

Should Be Avoided in Fantasy at Sonoma
Chris Buescher

is A Great DFS Option to Consider for Sonoma Lineups
Riley Herbst

a Deep Sleeper at Sonoma
Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF