It will likely send a groan through the New York Jets fan base, but quarterback Zach Wilson is going nowhere and the team is just one injury or failed trade away from him playing significant time again in 2023.
It is fair to say that New York Jets fans are over Zach Wilson after just two seasons. For a fan base that has suffered through five decades without a consistent franchise quarterback, they were willing to be patient after he struggled in his rookie season. Such difficulties in a debut year are to be expected.
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However, the relationship between him and team supporters soured when he was unwilling to take responsibility for the effect his poor play in year two had on the team in a season where they seemed primed for a surprise return to the postseason.
New York Jets record (2022): 7-10, last place in AFC East
As the 2022 season came to a close, most New York Jets fans expected the team to look for an answer at the starting QB spot and ship Wilson off to any team willing to take him. Unfortunately, we are now in April and Zach Wilson is the only NFL-level QB on the roster. The expectation is the team will find a better signal-caller soon in a potential trade for Aaron Rodgers, but the 23-year-old is likely to serve as his backup next season.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Jets insider Zack Rosenblatt explained why the New York Jets are “stuck” with the bust first-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft.
“As of Monday, [the Jets] had just $9.4 million in cap space, per the NFLPA. The Jets would’ve liked to bring back Mike White, but he signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins worth up to $16 million. That’s more than the Jets were willing to pay, and White picked one of the best backup jobs in the league behind Tua Tagovailoa.
“… Unless another team comes in with a surprising trade offer, the Jets are stuck with Wilson. Perhaps it will serve him well to sit and learn behind Rodgers, his quarterback hero, and out of the public eye. He does have a higher ceiling than most backup quarterbacks, even if he hasn’t exactly proven that in two years.”
– Zack Rosenblatt
It’s a scary notion, but even if the New York Jets land Rodgers, there is always a chance the well-aged legend suffers a serious injury and forces Wilson into several games next season. Or, in the worst-case scenario, a deal falls through after the draft and New York only has Wilson as their best option in 2023.