Jets' Robert Saleh addresses possible Zach Wilson draft controversy

As noted by Ryan Chichester of Audacy, WFAN radio personality Gregg Giannotti is among those who have suggested that New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh hinted during a Monday news conference that he didn't want to select quarterback Zach Wilson with the second overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. 

Saleh clarified his original comments when asked about them on Tuesday. 

"I thought the question was asking if you’ve learned anything from the evaluation process and what would you have done different," Saleh explained, according to the Jets' website. "Obviously, anytime you have an experience in terms of an evaluation process, whatever it is, you have ideas on, hey, how could I approach it differently to create a different evaluation? So it was more of a learning experience and not that we did anything wrong, it’s just how can we be even more efficient." 

Saleh confirmed on Monday he's starting backup Tim Boyle and dropping Wilson to third on the depth chart for this Friday's game between the 4-6 Jets and 7-3 Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. Per Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Saleh raised eyebrows when he said on Monday afternoon he's "got my thoughts" about general manager Joe Douglas drafting Wilson over two years ago. 

"I’ve shared them with Joe. But I’m not going to get into it here with you guys," Saleh remarked at that time. 

Issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted how organizations prepared for the 2021 draft. Saleh touched upon that subject on Tuesday. 

"You just didn’t have as much one-on-one ability to sit with a player, visit with him, install stuff, go to the field, just watch him do your drills," Saleh noted. 

For what it's worth, Saleh also insisted that "Joe and I are always on the same page." 

Saleh benched Wilson twice over the second half of last season and sat the 24-year-old in favor of Boyle during this past Sunday's blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills. Both Saleh and Douglas will eventually need to publicly discuss how the Jets whiffed on selecting who is being called one of the biggest busts in franchise history, but the coach didn't distance himself from that decision on Tuesday.