There's nothing more I love fading than rookie quarterbacks playing under first-time head coaches and first-time play-callers. That's exactly the situation Zach Wilson finds himself in, playing under head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Overall, the Jets are among the least talented teams in the league, as Pro Football Focus rated their roster as the third-worst in the NFL. Outside of a sneaky good defensive line, spearheaded by free agent edge rusher Carl Lawson and interior defensive linemen Quinnen Williams, the Jets do not have any position groups that jump off the page. I'm skeptical about how effective Zach Wilson will be, as quarterbacks generally perform well below league average during their rookie campaigns. Wilson is also a one year wonder, who compiled prolific stats against the likes of Boise State, North Alabama, and San Diego State. Let's just say that the former BYU signal-caller did not compete against much NFL-caliber talent, while in college. As such, I envision Wilson's learning curve to be quite a bit steeper than most rookie quarterbacks. As I noted in my NFL Season Special Bets on Bovada article, the division projects to be a nightmare for the rookie quarterback. Brian Flores, Sean McDermott, and Bill Belichick are among the best defensive minds in the NFL. That's six games where the Jets will be outmatched in terms of roster talent and coaching ability. That does not bode well for Wilson or Gang Green. The offensive line and secondary, arguably the two most important position groups behind quarterback, are abysmal, too. Pro Football Focus ranked the 2020 New York Jets as the 29th-best offensive line in the league. That's a fancy way of saying the fourth-worst. First-round pick Alijah Vera-Tucker should bolster the performance of the unit, but this is certainly a below average unit. The secondary was even worse. Only one team in the NFL allowed a higher completion rate than the Jets last season. In a pass-happy league, a lackluster secondary is a recipe for disaster. An inexperienced quarterback, playing behind a porous offensive line, is not ideal, either. I'm fading Gang Green this season, as I believe the Jets are ill-equipped to compete at a high level during the 2021 NFL season. I believe 5 wins is the ceiling for this squad.
Best Bet: Jets under 6.5 wins (-136)
You can find odds to bet on the New York Jets win total at various sportsbooks, such as DraftKings.
Bookiemonster Sports is a sports media organization that specializes in providing quality betting advice for diehard football fans. Always remember to wager responsbily. Sign up today and become a member. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter.
