Matt Flynn probably thought he was getting away from an undersized, young quarterback by the name of Wilson when he was traded from the Seahawks — think again, Matt.
Flynn was expected to start when he was traded to the Seahawks last year. That was until Russell Wilson impressed in rookie mini-camp, training camp and preseason and overtook Flynn as Seattle’s starting quarterback.
It appears Tyler Wilson is on track to do the same to Flynn in Oakland this year. Flynn was traded to the Raiders for a 2014 fifth-round pick and a conditional 2015 pick on April 2. He was expected to be the Week 1 starter in Oakland. Wilson, who was drafted in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft, has impressed at rookie mini-camp, though.
“I like the way that Tyler’s commanded the huddle,” Raiders head coach Dennis Allen told the Contra Costa Times. “I’ve liked the way that he’s gone through his reads. He’s picking up a new system, but I think he’s doing a nice job. I don’t think there’s any question about his arm strength and his accuracy.”
Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times had some even stronger words of praise for Wilson, saying “It says here that Wilson is on track to push Matt Flynn for the starting job right away and certainly push [Terrelle] Pryor for the backup spot held by Matt Leinart last season.”
Corkran also said Wilson “looks miles ahead of where JaMarcus Russell, Andrew Walter, Marques Tuiasosopo and Terrelle Pryor were when they arrived as Raiders draft picks,” though that may not even be considered a compliment, just an observation.
Wilson was considered a top-tier quarterback prospect entering the 2012 season, but Arkansas’ worst-case-scenario season, in which the Razorbacks went 4-8 under new head coach John L. Smith after Bobby Petrino was fired, lowered his draft stock. Wilson constantly had to question the fight in his team, which is why he was considered one of the “toughest” quarterbacks in this class.
Wilson’s also undersized at 6-foot-2, but had had the best strength-accuracy combination of any player in his class, according to some draft analysts.
So if any team is looking for a rookie starting quarterback in 2014, they just need to draft a player named Wilson and trade for Flynn. It’s that simple.
Photo via Facebook/Oakland Raiders
