Former New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Payton tries another Wilson at QB as Jets trade Zach to Broncos

Maybe Sean Payton can work with this Wilson.

After the Denver Broncos head coach removed veteran Russell Wilson as his quarterback, which left the Broncos to pay $37 million of Russ's salary as he plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver acquired quarterback Zach Wilson from the New York Jets.

First reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero as a guest on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" on Fox Sports 1, the Broncos will also receive a seventh-round draft pick, No. 256, and send a sixth-round pick, No. 203, to the Jets.

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held Thursday night through Saturday in Detroit.

New York will pay some of the $4.4 million roster bonus that Zach Wilson is due this summer.

After being the second overall pick out of Brigham Young in the 2021 NFL Draft, Wilson, 24, has been what most would call a flop in his three seasons with the Jets. He has completed 57 percent of his passes for 6,293 yards with 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in 33 games with a 12-21 win-loss record.

After struggling his first two seasons, it appeared that Wilson would get the opportunity to watch and learn as a backup when New York acquired Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. 

But those plans went up in smoke when Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on the fourth play of the opener last season and Wilson was forced back into action and started 11 games.

Now, Payton has the opportunity to prove he can mold a flawed young quarterback into what he hopes can be something at least approaching his Drew Brees standard.  

That's after rejecting Russell Wilson, who is not quite what he was in winning a Super Bowl and going to another, but still can make plays and win games. It should be fun keeping up with the Wilsons during the 2024 NFL season.

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