Source: Jets will trade Zach Wilson after the season

Pick up another quarterback who was kicked to the curb by the New York Jets.

Sources close to the situation confirmed to the Deseret News that the Jets have told Zach Wilson that he will be traded after the season. Wilson and coach Robert Saleh agreed to a split after Wilson was benched — again — and before the team decided to return him to the starting spot on Sunday.

The team, caught up in the news that upset Aaron Rodgers, the New York media and fans this past week, has not made a comment on the future of the former BYU star and the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft, other than announcing he will be. back to the field Sunday.

Wilson became the Jets’ first baseman after Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon four games into the season opener. Wilson started the next nine games before sitting out — his third stint in 13 months. The Jets are 4-6 during this stretch and are averaging just 14 points per game. Saleh and Wilson met after the bench, and they agreed to part ways after the season, sources told the Deseret News.

Wilson has one year remaining on his $5.5 million guaranteed contract. Wilson is only 24 years old, and he has a rocket arm and good speed and athleticism. If the Jets can’t find a team to pick up all of Wilson’s salary, they’ll be on the hook for default.

Wilson has failed to make 31 starts (so far) for the Jets, but at least he has plenty of company. The Jets are a quarterback graveyard (which is why I wrote an open letter to the Jets shortly before the 2021 draft, begging them not to draft Wilson). In 2021, Wilson became the 11th quarterback selected by the Jets in 15 years, including six in the first two rounds. Before Wilson’s arrival, the Jets had switched quarterbacks 12 times in the previous five seasons, using drafts, replacements fruits and travelers.

The Jets and the media will blame Wilson for his flaws, and he certainly had his flaws. His career stats thus far: 56.6 completion yards, 5,966 yards, 21 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, 6.3 yards per attempt and 71.9 passer rating. However, when will the Jets, because of their long, frustrating streak with quarterbacks, look in the mirror and realize that they are the standard model for all those quarterback failures?

Do they really believe that all those quarterbacks can’t be successful? No one seemed to fully recover from their painful experience with the Jets, except for Geno Smith, who landed with Seattle in his seventh season, spending two seasons behind Russell. Wilson then became the team’s quarterback in his ninth season. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the league in 2022.

When the Jets benched Wilson last season, they replaced Mike White, who after a good game against a bad Bears team, went downhill quickly, finishing 1-3. interesting, three-dimensional and complex. Then the Jets started Joe Flacco, who was also 1-3 as a starter (Wilson was 5-4) and threw five touchdowns and three interceptions.

As widely reported this week, Wilson only sat out two games; his replacement, Tim Boyle, sat on the bench in last week’s game and was replaced by rookie Trevor Siemian. Boyle was released by the Jets on Tuesday. In fact, the Jets reversed course this week and asked Wilson — the quarterback who hit his head with a water bottle and taunted the media — to start the game. the team has five left.

If Wilson had any initial concerns about stepping back into the lineup for a 4-8 team with no draft goals, it would be understandable. He is at risk of an injury that could disrupt a trade. The Athletic, using a source in the Jets organization, reported that Aaron Rodgers talked to Wilson to give advice, but Wilson was worried about playing, which sparked a lot of controversy. Saleh made a strong defense of the quarterback in a press conference.

“Let’s be clear. If he refuses to play, man, he doesn’t exist,” Saleh said. ” … The fact is that suddenly I finished talking to him, he came about half an hour ago and we had a very good conversation. The young man wants the ball, he wants to start, he believes he is the best quarterback in the room and the best quarterback for this team and the guy he gives us. the best chance to win. And I’ll tell you the same thing I told him, I appreciate it. I appreciate the fact that he wants to play.”

In Wilson’s defense

Rodgers, who has been friends with Wilson for the past year (Wilson stayed at Rodgers’ house the weekend after last season), offered a fierce and emotional defense of Wilson. on the radio and said several times that he “loved” Wilson.

“When you use resources and whether it’s intentional or unintentional to try to kill someone’s character like that report for Zach is very difficult for me,” said Rodgers, in CBS. “… You’re saying that this kid was left on the team and doesn’t want to play. What is your motivation to try to bury such a person?

“… I think the chicken is his core and I don’t think he has a chance in a winning organization. (Wilson’s) been through a lot of (information) in the last three years and he has the right to be unhappy and unhappy about it. I think he did a good job of standing up and answering this year if it was his part to do it.”

Wilson will return to the lineup for games against the Texans, Dolphins, Commanders, Browns and then is expected to wear a Jets uniform for the last time on January 7 against the Patriots.

Those close to Wilson, including his high school coach, Eric Kjar, say they’d like to see Zach sign with a team with a bad-tempered head coach (Saleh has a case defense) and a strong quarterback who can do it. spend a year on the sidelines in an apprentice role.

The Jets made Wilson their starter, ready or not, from Day 1 of his professional career, and that often comes with the risk of damaging confidence. Rodgers spent three years on the line before he became a starter for the Packers, as did former Utah State star Jordan Love. The Jets planned to play Wilson behind Rodgers this season, but that was held up by Rodgers’ injury.

The Broncos, Vikings and Rams, who all have veterans, success at quarterback, as well as offensive leaders, will be a good place to be. landing.

Why there is hope

It’s not too late for Wilson, but the landing and the passers are important. Steve Young, a former BYU quarterback, started his NFL career nearly as poorly as Wilson. In his first two years with the Buccaneers — a formidable franchise at the time — he had a 3-16 win-loss record while throwing more interceptions than touchdowns and completing only half of his passes.

Before the 49ers threw Young a lifeline, with Joe Montana at quarterback and offensive coach Bill Walsh as the head coach, Young began to develop into a Hall of Fame QB. He did not become the team’s first baseman until his seventh season in the league, not counting two more seasons with the LA Express of the United States Football League.

Then there’s Alex Smith, the first pick of the 2005 draft, out of the University of Utah. A rookie quarterback couldn’t land in a worse position than San Francisco. His first two head coaches were rooted in defense – first Mike Nolan and then Mike Singletary. Smith became the starter on Day 1. The coach pushed him to play with a serious injury, threw him under the bus with the public, beat him on the line, and after For five seasons he was hurt and scared. Then came Jim Harbaugh, who nurtured Smith and transformed him into a powerful quarterback who would go on to throw for 35,650 yards, 199 touchdowns, 109 interceptions and 174 wins.

Wilson’s future in football is uncertain, but it is equally uncertain for all but one of the five quarterbacks in his draft class selected in the first 15 of 2021.

Justin Fields has proven to be a natural passer. He kept his starting job because of his running ability, but such quarterbacks rarely last in the league. Most observers believe the Bears will draft a quarterback in 2024. Mac Jones, after showing promise last season, struggled this season and was benched. . The Patriots will be looking for another quarterback in the offseason. Trey Lance, after being traded from the 49ers to the Cowboys last summer for a fourth-round pick, is a third-string quarterback and has yet to hit. avoid this season. Of the five, only Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, has established himself as a franchise quarterback with the Jaguars.

Wilson will be the second of those quarterbacks to transfer to another team. It’s not a decision the Jets had in mind when they drafted him, although, given their history, they shouldn’t be surprised. It’s amazing to recall the phone conversation between Saleh and Wilson after the 2021 draft. In that call, Saleh told Wilson, “The thing I just want to tell you – remember this – this organization will promote you, not the other way around.”