More than six weeks after Zach Wilson was known to be given permission to speak with teams about a trade, the contract-year QB remains on the Jets. Though, the team looks set to go further in the direction of the former No. 2 overall pick being elsewhere in 2024.
The Jets are highly unlikely to obtain much for Wilson, who has been one of the most disappointing QB draftees in modern NFL history. A rumor about the team needing to attach a draft pick to entice a team to take on Wilson’s 2024 guarantee emerged. But GM Joe Douglas confirmed the team is still trying to unload the fourth-year passer. Offers have come in, but Wilson remains a Jet.
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Wilson is staying away from Jets offseason workouts, per ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. These are voluntary, and given the team’s actions at QB and owner Woody Johnson‘s comments about Wilson, it makes sense for the BYU alum to avoid offseason work with his current team. The Jets have made it known for a while they are done with Wilson, having given Tyrod Taylor a two-year, $12MM deal to back up Aaron Rodgers.
The team is also eyeing a quarterback investment on Day 2 or Day 3, Cimini adds, calling the team “very interested” in adding to the position. Douglas said he wants the Jets to become a “QB factory” along the lines of the Ron Wolf– and Ted Thompson-era Packers. Green Bay made a habit of drafting QBs annually, even as Brett Favre‘s ironman streak persisted. The team drafted the likes of Mark Brunell, Matt Hasselback and Aaron Brooks (with Kurt Warner stopping through for a cup of coffee), each of whom becoming long-term starters elsewhere, before landing Rodgers in 2005.
Rodgers’ age (40) naturally makes this a need area for the Jets, though they are not expected to consider a passer in the first round. A Day 2 investment would be interesting as well, given how much is riding on this season for Douglas and HC Robert Saleh. Both are on hot seats, and the team only has one Day 2 pick thanks to trading their second-rounder for Rodgers last year. Drafting a player who would not factor into the team’s 2024 plans would bring some risk regarding the 2024 roster.
Rodgers, who famously said he was “90% retired” early in the 2023 offseason, has since said he expects to play at least two more Jets seasons. The increasingly outspoken QB has also said playing into his mid-40s is on the table. That marks a change from comments he made toward the end of his Packers run.
While many teams have filled their QB2 spot, some have not. The next several days loom as a key window for the Jets and Wilson, who is due $5.5MM guaranteed this year. If the Jets end up cutting Wilson, they would be tagged with $11.2MM in dead money. As of now, the team is not expected to release its three-year starter. Not trading Wilson by the draft would seemingly make a release more likely, as a second- or third-day QB draftee would be on track to be the Jets’ third-stringer this season. That would further leave Wilson without a conceivable place on the 2024 roster.
At this point take a 7th for Wilson or attach a 6th get a 7th back whatever it takes. Marriage needs to end
Id also trade back from #10, jets arent a tackle away from competing.
I’d also ask what it would take for rams to trade Stetson Bennett. Seemed to fall out of favor in LA and definitely more accomplished of a passer than Day 2 or 3 pick would be. And have a year under his belt in the NFL so jets wouldn’t be starting a rookie.
I agree. He could sit behind Stafford for a 7th and learn plenty from McVay and Stafford. Also a team like Bucs comes to mind. Learn behind Baker in one of the most QB friendly offenses there is
I’m disappointed in you Sentinel !…How dare you agree Stetson be traded to the Jets, what did he ever do to you to deserve that?!?! Lol
I believe I have THE winning lottery ticket every time. Hope is a fine thing but it probably won’t let you trade a complete failure of your own making for something valuable. At some point reality has to set in.
Well as it turns out. Late round day 3 picks were involved except it wasn’t
Wilson + 7th gets a 6th back
Or
Wilson + 6th gets a 7th back
It’s pick swaps in 6th and 7th and couple mill cause Denver is poor due to Russ’s cap hit.
link to profootballrumors.com
lol no!! Keep Stetson and Jimmy G. Add Zach. Jets get a 7th
you would have to give me a draft pick to take him off your hands.
The fact that the coaches and front office still haven’t cut Zach says how incompetent they are. But what’s another losing season for the Jets?
This tells me you don’t know what you’re talking about. Cutting Wilson would be an $11.2M dead cap hit. If you can’t trade him, there’s no reason to rush to cut him.
You would take that bum into next season again? Why? He’s awful and not well liked in the locker room. Cut your losses and move on.
Have you spoken to others in the locker room? He appears to have a lot of support there publicly.
I haven’t. But 2 years ago, when they lost to NE 10-3, he said he wasn’t responsible, didn’t sit well w/ the team. Add in multiple benching’s over the years and they still want to keep him? Pee poor management.
There’s a reason the Jets always lose. This is a perfect example.
That 10-3 result was the game the Jets lost on a punt return TD with 5 seconds left. Lots of boos that day in Foxboro cos of how the Patriots kept getting frustrated. Jets came back the following season and ended Belichick’s career.
BTW, anybody notice the Jets going “Back to the Future” with their uniforms for 2024?
The Jets ended BB’s career ? That a ridiculous take,but you’re a Jets fan so it’s expected.
Reports (rumors) had Garrett Wilson supporting Joe Flacco when he was there. Then Salah ‘lost the locker room’ because he backed Wilson even tho Salah had not other choice but to 2 seasons in a row…..Where’s that support supposedly coming from?
@braveshomer- Not wanting him to start doesn’t mean he’s not still liked. It shouldn’t be difficult differentiate between the two.
Justin Fields went for a 6th rounder with half as much guaranteed money and WAY more success, anyone who thinks Wilson is worth anything doesn’t get it, or accept your gonna have to give up a 5th and take a 7th back to move off of him, think how much you want his money off your cap, now you are thinking like every GM in football, he’s done in the NFL as a prospect, vet mins until he proves he isn’t terrible and immature
Not well-liked? And you only cite one incident? From everything I’ve heard, he’s actually very well-liked. Those comments might not have been perceived greatly, but I haven’t heard that this made him disliked. I would even go so far as to say he has had a surprising amount of vocal support for clearly not being QB1.
Im sure his teammates like him as a person and as an individual
100% chance his teammates do not want him, have faith in him, or trust him to be QB of this team.
The last 2 years players were very vocal about which QB they prefer. Maybe people don’t remember the Mike white t shirts players were sporting in support of White as QB of the fact the word locker room mutiny was tossed around if Wilson stayed QB. But the locker room clearly does not trust him to be their QB.
And If that’s the case Jets are better off sending him elsewhere and giving the roster spot to someone else.
They should have just cut him last season
Taken on the dead cap and have been done with it.
Huge cap hit didn’t stop Denver from saying bye bye to Russell Wilson this off season.
No reason to keep around a disgruntled player cause of a 11 mill cap hit. Just asking for drama and unnecessary issues to occur.
I agree with myaccount2. It absolutely is not incompetent. Hold onto him until someone wants him.
Who wants a bum QB and pay him $11m? Apparently no other franchise.
They wouldn’t pay him $11m. It’s $5.5m. That’s the cap hit for the Jets if they don’t trade him.
From google: The first pick of the fifth round will sign a contract worth approximately $4.224 million and receive a signing bonus of approximately $384,680. The second pick of the round will receive a $4.218 million contract with a $378,408 signing bonus.
Draft a cheaper option then. It’s not like Zach is going to figure it out all of a sudden.
No one is trading for him. A guaranteed $5.5 million is way too much for this chump. They are going to have to cut him or keep him.
Draft a 5th-7th rounder for a fraction of the price and similar results. Not rocket science.
Just to be clear: it’s not a fraction of the price when ZW counts as an $11.2M dead cap. You can’t just say cut a guy without looking at the context of other ramifications.
Teams cut players every year and take cap hits. To hold onto a bad player is beyond ridiculous just to help your cap.
The point is you said “for a fraction of the price,” which is only correct without context. Choosing to draft a 5th-7th rounder then outright cutting Wilson is a $13M decision. Which is why you trade him like they did today. At least they get something for that decision.
Exactly what value does Wilson have that the jets think any draft pick is worth him? He’s not even worth a 7th rounder.
Better to gamble on a rookie 7th rounder who just be a good backup (or that rare Brady or Purdy). Better to toss the coin than spend picks and $5mill on a proven failure.
How many QBs in this draft are worse than Wilson?
You can blame the OL, the OC, and anything you want but that will, at best, address a fraction of the problem.
He arrogantly refuted any accountability … and you can’t teach that. (with apologies to Enzo lol)
No one will trade for him. He’s destined for a career in a practice squad
Wilson and a 5th for a 7th round pick swap
Only if the Jets pick up half his salary, too. Better to draft an unknown with that 7th who would cost 1/5th the cap hit
A day two pick is not happening.
I agree with you. Even if they tossed in their two 7th round comp picks it’s a longshot scenario at best. Their best chance at getting some value is after the season starts and injuries create a need for some other teams.
Minnesota should get in on this. Their track record suggests they are much better at reviving a QB career than they are at drafting one.
Based on Wilson’s performances don’t think any GM would jump on this transaction. Likely teams will wait to see if he gets released or until the price drops to a 5-7 round selection next year.
No one is giving a pick for Wilson