Jets Grant Zach Wilson Permission to Seek Trade as Future with Team Uncertain
The future of Zach Wilson with the New York Jets is hanging in the balance as the team has granted him permission to seek a trade. General Manager Joe Douglas made the announcement during a press conference at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Wilson and his representation are now free to explore potential trade options.
Douglas stated, “Where we are exactly, we’ve given them permission to talk to other teams about a trade. I’m going to circle back with [Wilson’s agent] at some point, either this week or next week, just to see how those conversations are going. But other than that, there’s nothing else to report.”
Wilson, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, has had a rocky start to his career with the Jets. He has struggled to find consistency, completing just 57 percent of his passes for 6,293 yards, with 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. The team’s record with him as a starting quarterback stands at 12-21.
Initially, Wilson was expected to serve as the backup for Aaron Rodgers in the 2023 season. However, Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury just four snaps into the season, thrusting Wilson into the starting role. In 12 games with 11 starts, Wilson completed 60.1 percent of his throws for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
There were reports suggesting that Wilson was hesitant to play again after being benched due to concerns about the risk of injury. However, with Rodgers set to return as the Jets’ starter in 2024, Wilson’s role as the backup is uncertain. The team is now exploring the veteran market for potential alternatives.
Douglas confirmed this, saying, “Yeah, that’s part of the discussions that we’ve had. It’s an area that we’re going to be addressing moving forward. Again, we’re still really early in the offseason, especially when it comes to the veteran backup landscape and market. We’ve had good meetings, good evaluations with the guys who are available. And I think we’re ready to take the next step and see where the market is exactly with these backup quarterbacks.”
The trade market for Wilson remains unclear at this point. If a team acquires him before early May, they would have the opportunity to exercise his fifth-year option. However, given Wilson’s performance thus far, it seems unlikely that any team would be willing to fully guarantee his salary for the 2025 season.
As the offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see how Wilson’s trade discussions unfold and where he may end up if a trade does materialize. The Jets, on the other hand, will be focused on finding a suitable veteran backup to support Rodgers in the upcoming season. The quarterback landscape in New York is undoubtedly undergoing a significant shift, and fans will be eagerly awaiting further developments.
