The New York Jets are looking to trade Zach Wilson
One order of business currently in limbo for the New York Jets is the never-ending Zach Wilson saga. After owner Woody Johnson insisted that the Jets will keep Wilson if they can’t trade him, the former No. 2 overall pick’s future seems up in the air.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter shed some light on the situation. Joining The Michael Kay Show, he provided an assessment of Wilson’s trade market.
“I think in the end they’ll trade him,” Schefter said. “I think it might take some time for a lot of reasons.”
Schefter pointed out that Wilson’s value is pretty much set in stone at a seventh-round pick after Mac Jones and Justin Fields went for sixth-rounders. The biggest issue is Wilson’s 2023 salary, which is close to $5.5 million. Neither the Jets nor any trading team would want to pay that money, and other teams think the Jets will release Wilson rather than pay him.
Therefore, Schefter thinks an inflection point will come at the draft, if not before. He believes the Jets will find a trade partner and come to an agreement about dividing up the money.
While there is nothing new here materially, it’s worth noting that Schefter believes the Jets will find a way to trade Wilson. He’s as plugged in around the NFL as anyone. Even though every team in the league now has at least a backup quarterback, a seventh-round pick is a low bar for any player to be traded. The Jets just hope they can get some cap relief in the process, though it is unlikely to be close to the full $5.5 million.
Ultimately, when Wilson moves on, it will be one more distraction eliminated from the Jets’ side. Schefter seems to think that it will happen sooner rather than later.
Well, I bristle at the constant narrative that calls Aaron’s off-field activities a “distraction”, it shouldn’t be and is not. On the other hand, having Zach in or around the facility would be a distraction to actual football activities. Cut bait by any means necessary.
Some have suggested the Rams and the Broncos as two potential teams for Zach. I still would like to see him join the Raiders, a young team with another young QB currently listed as the starter, Aidan O’Connell, who is really more of a question mark than Wilson. Minshew is currently the number 2, but what if Wilson outplayed O’Connell in training camp? I just like the scenario of a dome, good OL and running game, a lot of free-wheeling fans, low expectations for the team, and close to home for Zach. I think the Raiders have nothing to lose and maybe a lot to gain.
Would make some sense, get it done!
I hope he thrives somewhere. The Jets would deserve it for how they handled him.