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.
Potential trade destinations
The landscape of the quarterback market continues to change. Throughout the off-season, teams have addressed their needs at the position rapidly. This has diminished the leverage New York has with most trade talks. However, the opportunity to capitalize remains. With some teams uncertain of next season’s class, Wilson can be paired with one of New York’s two fourth-round picks in an attempt to gain a third pick within the top 100.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One destination for Zach Wilson would be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While they retained Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask is in the last year of his contract. Even if they decline his fifth-year option, Zach Wilson is two years younger than Trask and has more starting experience. Pairing Wilson with a 4th round pick could be enough to acquire one of their two third-round picks at 89 & 92 overall.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have done their due diligence on this year’s quarterback class. While they desire a long-term replacement in the post-Russell Wilson era, they are on the outside looking in. Assuredly, none of the top four quarterbacks will be available at 12. A potential trade down to 12 won’t get New York the biggest return. However, including Wilson in the deal could potentially help efforts to acquire Courtland Sutton.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are undergoing a genesis under Jim Harbaugh. The team is rebranding their offense to focus on the running game and a new wide receiver room. It’s all to benefit Justin Herbert. However, what about the rest of the quarterback room? While they retained Easton Stick, the 29-year-old veteran has a limit on his abilities. Harbaugh would be an excellent mentor to Zach Wilson if the latter is willing to commit to Harbaugh’s philosophy.
Honorable Mentions
New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, and Las Vegas Raiders.
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