Zach Wilson, the quarterback for the Jets, is waiting for a trade.Zach Wilson, the quarterback for the Jets, is waiting for a trade.
Zach Wilson, the quarterback for the New York Jets, made the decision to skip the optional offseason exercises; general manager Joe Douglas called it a “player’s choice.”
At his pre-draft news conference on Friday, Douglas stated that trade negotiations with teams interested in Wilson have not yielded any progress. Wilson, meanwhile, did not report for the Jets’ offseason program and continues to express his desire to play somewhere next season.
“I think it’s each player’s choice whether they’re going to be here for phase one,” Douglas stated. All of them are optional. Quite a few players haven’t shown up for the first week, so Zach will need to make that decision.
In February, before New York hired former Giants backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor to support Aaron Rodgers, Douglas approved Wilson’s request to pursue a trade.
Wilson was selected by New York with the second overall pick in 2021. In three seasons as an on-again, off-again starter, he has a record of 12-21.
In 2024, Rodgers will return from an Achilles rupture to start at quarterback.
Wilson’s tenure with the team was probably coming to an end, as Douglas hinted during the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
Douglas remarked, “I’ve had pleasant chats with his agent, Brian Ayrault.” We have granted them authorization to discuss a deal with other teams where we are. There is nothing more to report but that.
The 24-year-old Wilson had a 4-7 record in 2023 while throwing for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He has completed 57.0 percent of his passes for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 picks across 34 games (33 starts).
In August of last year, Trey Lance, who was selected third overall by the San Francisco 49ers, was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. The Chicago Bears selected Justin Fields at selection No. 11, and the New England Patriots selected Mac Jones at pick No. 15. Fields was acquired by the Steelers last month, and Jones was moved to the Jaguars to serve as Lawrence’s backup.
