Former BYU Great Says ‘Not Far-Fetched’ To Compare Zach Wilson To NFL QBs Rodgers, Mahomes

Jan 20, 2021, 1:41 PM | Updated: 1:41 pm

Aaron Rodgers - Zach Wilson - Patrick Mahomes...

(L-R) Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson, and Patrick Mahomes. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

(Courtesy of Getty Images)

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former BYU and Super Bowl-winning linebacker Brady Poppinga made some lofty comparisons between former Cougar signal-caller Zach Wilson and NFL quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.

Poppinga compared the two quarterbacks during a recent interview with FOX Sports Radio’s Jason McIntyre.

“He was making NFL throws last year but this year, I’m watching and I’m like, ‘It’s not a far-fetched comparison to compare him to Aaron Rodgers,'” Popping said. “I’m not saying that he’s at that level but at least somebody has flashes that look like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. He has the ability to move and throw move and throw off of different planes, be off-balance, throw sidearm, three quarters, over the top. He has a whole package.”

BYU grad Brady Poppinga was a 5th round pick who won a ring in Green Bay, and he BYU QB Zach Wilson well 📈 pic.twitter.com/z3S8DvJmjB

— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) January 20, 2021

“When you’re in a league to where moving, elongating plays as a quarterback is probably the number one trait, and just having baseline throwing skills I mean we see that with a number of quarterbacks. He’s one of the best at doing that,” Popping continued. “Trevor Lawrence (Clemson quarterback) is the best in this draft, but by far, Zach Wilson’s the second best.”

Not the first

Poppinga isn’t the first former NFL player to compare Wilson to Rodgers and Mahomes.

Earlier in January, former linebacker and current ESPN analyst David Pollack made similar comments to those of Poppingas.

“He scares the crap out of me because my comparisons that keep coming to mind when I watch him are too good,” Pollack said. “Man, I keep looking at him and he’s got such a smooth, natural ability. He just floats off his back foot and flips it like Aaron Rodgers. He just runs to his left and throws it 60 yards downfield like Patrick Mahomes.”

.@davidpollack47 is all in on BYU QB Zach Wilson ✍️ pic.twitter.com/nejpZLnz0Y

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 8, 2021

About Zach Wilson

Wilson passed for 3,692 yards and completed 74 percent of his passes during his impressive junior campaign. He helped lead BYU to an 11-1 record in 2020.

The Draper, Utah native finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting for the 2020 season.

Wilson is currently in Southern California, where he is training in preparation for the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Draft.

2021 NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Draft

The quarterback will find out where his professional journey will start during the 2021 NFL Draft in April.

The Draft is scheduled to be held in Cleveland, Ohio from April 29-May 1.

Prior to the draft, the Scouting Combine is slated to take place from March 8-11.

Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).