Ryan Leaf offers advice to Jets' Zach Wilson

Famous NFL Draft bust Ryan Leaf has offered advice to young New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. 

"Right now it’s gonna be all about action — no more talking about anything," Leaf said about Wilson while speaking with Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post. "If anyone wants to talk to him, just say, 'When I’ve figured it out and I’m a decent quarterback, then I’ll talk.' There’s nothing he can say that’s going to change the minds of anybody right now — he’s got to go out and perform."

Wilson is coming off a disastrous second pro season that included the 23-year-old being benched on multiple occasions. Head coach Robert Saleh eventually wanted to shut Wilson down before Week 18. 

It was reported earlier this week that some within the Jets attempted to convince general manager Joe Douglas, assistant general manager Rex Hogan, and then-offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur back in the spring of 2021 that Wilson was merely a project who wouldn't be ready to start for at least a couple of years. Such conversations didn't prevent the Jets from making Wilson the second-overall pick of the 2021 draft.

During Super Bowl media hits this week, Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson and tight end C.J. Uzomah publicly campaigned for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to orchestrate a trade to Gang Green. Leaf suggested that Wilson could use a fresh start elsewhere as a backup behind an established starter such as Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Leaf also said he hasn't yet heard from Wilson but is available if the signal-caller wants to chat. 

"Zach was the second overall pick, struggled, and is getting hit with a lot of the B-U-S-T word. It would be a perfect opportunity for someone like that to reach out," Leaf added. "But he hasn’t. I get it. Because I had opportunities like that too. Terry Bradshaw and John Elway and stuff reached out to me, and I just kind of told them to f--- off. So I get it. I understand it. But I want him to be as successful as he can be."

Uzomah pointed out this week that the Jets could trade for Rodgers and have the future Hall of Famer mentor Wilson, in part because it's known Rodgers and Wilson "have a good relationship." It's also thought New York could sign veteran Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency and have Garoppolo work with Wilson similar to how he "helped" Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers.