Jets asked 49ers' Warner to size up Wilson with hug during QB's pro day

The New York Jets got creative in scouting their eventual No. 2 overall draft pick, Zach Wilson.

Ahead of the quarterback's pro day on March 26, new Jets head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur ran into San Francisco 49ers linebacker and BYU alum Fred Warner. LaFleur and Saleh were both 49ers assistants from 2017-20, and Warner thrived in the latter's defense.

Saleh asked the star linebacker to hug Wilson when meeting him to get a feel for the size of the prospect's upper body, as there were concerns around the NFL regarding his narrow shoulders, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.

New York's head coach assigned Warner to the task as the team and Wilson couldn't meet during February's scouting combine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Warner reportedly told Saleh that the BYU passer's size reminded him of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. The Jets became confident that he could fill out his upper body, per Cimini.

Wilson will be tasked to turn around a franchise that struggled to find consistency following its most recent high-profile quarterback selection, Sam Darnold.