Can the Jets Find a Trade Partner for This 2nd Overall Pick?

April, 2021. It was an important time in the life of New York Jets General Manager Joe Douglas. The Jamal Adams trade with the Seattle Seahawks allowed New York to gain a second first-round draft pick while holding the number 2 pick. With that, New York selected BYU quarterback Zach Wilson immediately after the Jaguars picked Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence and Wilson were the first of five quarterbacks selected. Since then, they are the last two to remain on their original teams.

Trey Lance was traded to Dallas for a 4th round pick. Mac Jones is now a Jacksonville Jaguar. Justin Fields is trying to salvage his career in Pittsburgh. While Trevor Lawrence has flashed his franchise quarterback potential, anything and everything that could have gone wrong for Zach Wilson did. Now, the arrival of Tyrod Taylor guarantees Wilson won’t be the backup anymore. So, who wants Zach Wilson now?

Can the Jets Find a Trade Partner for This 2nd Overall Pick?

Drafted as the potential franchise quarterback, hopes were high for Zach Wilson early in New York. The addition of Alijah Vera-Tucker via the Jamal Adams trade was a huge addition to the offensive line. The BYU quarterback dazzled in his junior year in Utah with 43 total touchdowns to only three interceptions and completing 73% of his passes. The hope was young offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur would utilize Zach’s strengths in a Shanahan-style offense, which LaFleur learned from his time in San Francisco. Alas, it was disastrous.

Ending his rookie season with a 3-10 record as a starter, 2022 needed to be better. As you’d expect it didn’t go as planned. A noncontact knee injury forced Zach to miss the first three weeks of the season, he was replaced by Mike White, Joe Flacco, and Chris Streveler. Despite his potential, Zach Wilson was unable to hold his end of the bargain. This forced Joe Douglas’ hand to push for the Aaron Rodgers trade. The expectation was Rodgers would be the starter with Wilson learning from the future Hall of Famer. Rodgers’ injury however quickly altered those plans. Wilson performed admirably in his absence, but injuries to the offensive line and suspect playcalling from Nathaniel Hackett failed to mask Zach’s inadequacies.

Zach Wilson’s production thus far

Since his arrival, Zach Wilson finished his tenure with a 12-21 record through 33 games with 28 total touchdowns. During that time, he amassed 34 total turnovers, including a staggering seven lost fumbles in 2023 alone. The lack of production speaks volumes of both Wilson and the organization’s failure to develop a prospect taken so high. Despite this play, it’s still possible for Wilson to have a career long term. He’s not a starting quarterback now, but the athletic intangibles remain. At 24 years old, Wilson can still have value as a backup thanks to his rushing abilities and moderate success at extending plays. The right offense can utilize him with an above-average offensive line. It’s hard to ignore the flashes of potential if he can play with a great offensive line, a luxury Wilson failed to receive while here.