The New York Jets and quarterback Zach Wilson seem destined for a divorce this offseason, but the 24-year-old has yet to be traded, and Jets owner Woody Johnson may be the reason why.
“The Jets want to trade quarterback Zach Wilson,” wrote NFL insider Mike Florio. “If they truly want to, they would.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Jets have gotten trade offers for Wilson. But they don’t like the offers they’ve gotten. So they’re waiting for something better.
“The terms of the offers and the teams that made them aren’t known, for now. It’s believed by some that owner Woody Johnson is the person keeping it from happening.”
The Jets have gotten a good look at Wilson since drafting him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, playing him in 34 games (33 starts) across three seasons.
Unfortunately, the results haven’t been there for the quarterback. Wilson has completed just 57.0 percent of his passes at the NFL level, throwing for 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. He holds a 12-21 record as a starter.
This past season, the plan was for Wilson to play behind veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but that was derailed when the future Hall of Famer suffered an Achilles injury in Week 1. Wilson ended up appearing in 12 games as a result, making 11 starts.
He was unable to salvage New York’s season, and in February, Johnson may have thrown some shade in his direction.
Woody Johnson at NFL Honors: “We need a backup quarterback. We didn’t have one last year.”
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) February 9, 2024
It’s unclear what sort of return the Jets may be looking for in a Wilson deal, but a couple of quarterback trades have occurred this offseason that are likely worth referencing.
For one, the New England Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round pick. More recently, the Chicago Bears traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round pick that could become a fourth-rounder.
Jones is a struggling pro, and Fields is somewhat of a wild card at this stage of his career. Folks may be able to get a better idea of Wilson’s trade value by reflecting on those deals.
Rodgers is expected to be back for the Jets in the 2024 season, so New York is hoping to have a smoother year of quarterback play. Meanwhile, Wilson’s future will be an interesting storyline to follow in the NFL world, especially for those who haven’t given up on him just yet.
