With a $5.45MM guarantee due for Zach Wilson, the Jets are unlikely to receive much in the way of trade compensation for a player on track to become one of the biggest whiffs in modern draft history. But it does appear some interest exists.
Offers have indeed emerged, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicating the team has received proposals for the former No. 2 overall pick. These proposals have not intrigued the Jets, and Joe Douglas said Monday (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) the team is not close to hammering out a trade. The Jets gave Wilson permission to seek a trade during the Combine.
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Woody Johnson may be a factor in Wilson not being moved. While the compensation being proposed is not known, Florio adds the owner is believed by some as the person preventing a deal from coming to pass. This would certainly be an interesting development, given Johnson’s comments about Wilson’s 2023 ineffectiveness. That said, Johnson was also believed to be the person who stood in the way of the Jets making an effort to acquire a better backup QB — due to the money poured into Aaron Rodgers — once the team’s future Hall of Fame passer went down in Week 1.
While denying he has nixed any trade — instead pointing to any such efforts being Douglas’ call — Johnson said Monday (via the New York Post’s Brian Costello) the Jets will keep Wilson if they cannot find a trade partner. It has long been expected the BYU alum will not be part of the 2024 Jets, and with trade offers potentially in the mix, it would seem the Jets have a way out without releasing the disappointing passer.
“I feel badly about Zach in some ways,” Johnson said. “Last year would have been great, it would have been the first time he could just sit back and watch a master at work. He’s never had that. He’s been in the fire from Day 1. I think that’s what he needs. He needs to be in a place where he can observe for a while. He’s got the skill. He can do everything. There’s a reason we drafted him at No. 2 overall. I have confidence that he’ll get there at some point.”
It is possible teams want the Jets to remain responsible for most of Wilson’s guarantee. Should Johnson have a potential role in Wilson remaining on the Jets, the financial component may be driving that. For now, Wilson would not have an immediate path to playing time as a Jet once again. The team gave Tyrod Taylor a two-year, $12MM deal to back up Rodgers, ending Wilson’s period in the New York spotlight after three woeful seasons.
“He’s been in the fire since day one”
Well who chose to put him in that fire?
The Jets certainly aren’t the only team willing to throw a rookie QB to the wolves. You would think organizations would learn from all these disasters but the trend will probably continue for some time yet. I feel bad for these guys who have to serve as cannon fodder instead of getting a reasonable chance to succeed.
“I’ll give you a box of Taco Bell nachos & a slightly worn pair of Levi’s dark washed jeans”
“Uhm…deal!”
Deal
Make it 3 Cheesy Gordita Crunches and you got a deal.
What is this, Bargain Hunt? Take it or leave it!
You’ll have to throw in a *handful* of Medium sauce packets, too.
Give me a slightly used box of tissues and a half eaten Philly cheese steak and you got a deal
Depends if it’s the nachos bellgrande or the nachos supreme…..don’t lowball the jets. They know what they got.
Just take an offer and move on. The Jets always have to make everything complicated.
If you can get even a 7th rounder and not be on the hook for most of the guarantee, why not?? Or, say I want a 6th – 5th – 4th?? but I’ll eat 60 – 70 – 80% (whatever) of the money.
Considering the Bears only got a conditional 6th in next year’s draft for Fields I’m not sure why the Jets wouldn’t accept literally any offer for Wilson. Unless they are seriously considering keeping him despite last year’s drama and don’t care about spending 5 million on the third string qb.
If they’re gonna get hit with a dead cap hit and then still have to pay for a 3rd stringer, why not keep him and let his contract expire next year?
Actually, from Wilson’s point of view, I would think a QB3 role with the Jets would probably be better than the same role any place else. They have two older QBs with significant injury histories ahead of him on the depth chart. They probably will draft a QB in the later rounds, possibly as Mr. Irrelevant, that would compete with him for that role. Ironically, it could be one of his successors at BYU. They should carry 4 QBs between the main roster and the practice squad.
QBs of any ability are tough to get through waivers. The ones who make it are the Chris Strevelers and the Bailey Zappes. The Patriots kept 4 qbs in 2000 because they believed their #4 would definitely be grabbed… was some guy named Tom something or other…
Wilson not only got to sit and watch a Master QB, he also didn’t get to play behind even a mediocre OLine or with an O-coordinator who had a clue. The kid never stood a chance.
He’s played 33 career games and has 12 wins, none of which he is responsible for. At some point he has to sack up and play better. Flacco, Mike White, and Josh Johnson all threw for 300 yards when they played. But let’s just blame everyone around Zach for his failures.
Face it, no other team would give up any pick and pay that salary in 2024. Those rumors are likely coming from people on the Jets’ payroll.
I’m not sure if he is any good, but I do believe that the offensive coaching around him has been awful. They should’ve had regular running plays set up for him since day 1. He’s closer to Fields than he is a pocket QB.
The highest bidders were all middle aged women. Mostly his mom’s friends.
ZING ….
Tried to insert a Homie Hoping Cougar joke….
But I know others here have better ones.
10th round pick would be fair.
The league is beating down the Jets doors to acquire Wilson ? Either Jets GM or his agent trying to pump up value, it’s tough sale. He looks scared on field n plays like it. This ain’t BYU.
Maybe a UFL team could buy his contract and he can be Dewayne’s problem lol
So you’re telling me they won’t take a sack of chicken nuggets and a coke for him?
No they absolutely would. The question really is what are they going to have to give someone to take him off their hands.
The only offers have to do with what the Jets are willing to give up to trade him
Joe, if you give us Wilson and your 3rd we’ll give you a 7th back
He has a 12-21 record and. 72.5 QB rating through three seasons. Those are really bad numbers. Akili Smith was better. He is not even a solid #2. He is a bust. Move on.
“He’s been in the fire since day 1.” Woody, YOU WANTED HIM OUT THERE AS THE DAY 1 STARTER.
October 24, 2021: Zach sprains his PCL, misses 4 games. Could have held him out longer if you thought he needed more time to learn. But okay, rookie season, let the kid learn on the job
Aug 12, 2022: Preseason meniscus tear on the first offensive series. Could have shut him down he was 100%. Again, only missed 3 games. (Flacco threw for almost 1000 yards in 3 games btw, including the 14 point comeback at Cleveland). Comes back, still sucks. Went 5-2 during those 7 games, was generally horrendous. Got benched after the 10-3 loss in New England where he took zero accountability. Rode the bench
I don’t know what happened to the rest of my comment but TL:DR, Woody knew what Zach was in 2022 and he knew what Zach would be in 2023. He made public comments about Zach Wilson during the NFL honors red carpet and completely tanked his value, whatever was left. So for him to say he feels bad is misplaced. And then to throw the GM under the bus tells you why no one wants to come here. He’s clown shoes. No one respects him. He also left the team for 4 years (I call it the Darnold Trump era) and set the team on fire. The PSL’s drove away all the true blood in the ground Jets fans, all for a couple bucks. Woody sucks. Go scratch
If a 6th is all Chicago can get for Fields then I’m positivity sure nobody is gonna offer anything more than a case of athletic tape
I bet they’re only getting offers of 7th round picks for him, but after seeing the Bears only get a 6th for Justin Fields, they better be prepared to keep him if they want more than a 7th. If he’s gonna have to learn an entirely new offense, he’ll need more than a week or two to do it, otherwise he’s gonna be on someone’s practice squad come September.
Another BS article. If the Jets were offered even a conditional 7th in 2026 Wilson would be gone by now. If they have received offers, they must be Brock Osweiler type deals where the Jets have to give up more trade value than the team willing to take on Wilson.
Joe Douglas is trying to win a hand of poker with a pair of 2’s.