Zach Wilson found himself in the spotlight for the New York Jets this past season. However, he couldn’t live up to the lofty expectation of breaking the playoff drought of the franchise.
Speculations had been rife about the Jets’ willingness to part ways with the quarterback, especially as he was noticeably absent from voluntary workouts. The Jets indeed made the bold move of shaking up their quarterback situation by trading Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
The Jets will receive a late-round pick swap in the 2024 draft from the Broncos in exchange for the quarterback. Both teams will split the $5.5 million he is due this season, with each team paying $2.75 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
However, it’s worth noting that the signal-caller’s tenure with the Broncos may be short-lived. The team is not expected to exercise his fifth-year option for $22.4 million, making him a free agent in 2025.
With Wilson’s departure, the Jets’ quarterback room sees Aaron Rodgers become the primary signal-caller, with newly signed backup Tyrod Taylor providing support. However, head coach Robert Saleh may not be done addressing the quarterback position, as he can look to draft a young prospect post-Rodgers to develop for the future.
Zach Wilson’s journey with the Jets
Zach Wilson arrived as the Jets’ choice when the team selected him second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He faced a tough rookie year behind a struggling offensive line, culminating in a 3-10 record. Wilson took 44 sacks, threw 11 interceptions while finishing with a sub-70 passer rating that season.
The signal-caller’s performance didn’t see a significant uptick in next season, prompting the Jets to acquire Aaron Rodgers in the 2023 offseason. However, fate intervened when Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury, thrusting Wilson back into the starting role sooner than expected.
Coach Saleh showcased his unwavering commitment to the young star and was even trolled for it. But Wilson failed to prove himself and went 4-7 in the 2023 season before getting benched. He finished his journey with Gang Green after playing 34 games and going 11-21 as a starter. The QB recorded 25 interceptions in this tenure, which is more than his touchdown passes (23).
