The Zach Wilson Era in New York is coming to an end, as the team recently permitted him to seek a trade. Originally selected with the second-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Wilson was supposed to be New York’s long-awaited answer under center. After trading Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, the BYU product immediately earned the Week 1 starting job with the intent of showing the world what he could do.
Unfortunately, the youngster couldn’t do much in the Big Apple. After a rough rookie season filled with growing pains, the quarterback continued to struggle in Year 2 and was benched midway through the season. The Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers via trade in the following offseason, sending Zach Wilson back to the bench. However, an Achilles injury forced Wilson back into the lineup, and he had yet another disappointing season in Year 3.
The Jets have decided that enough is enough and are actively trying to trade Zach Wilson for whatever they can get. While Wilson has not come close to playing up to his draft status, some teams probably will take a flier on the BYU product.
Breaking: #Jets QB Zach Wilson has been given permission to seek a trade, per GM Joe Douglas. pic.twitter.com/enSzuoB4lq
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 28, 2024
5 Teams Who Could Trade For Zach Wilson
To be clear, there isn’t a single team out there desperate enough to trade for Zach Wilson and try to make him their starting quarterback for the 2024 season. That ship has sailed, and Wilson is at the point in his career where he should sit behind an established veteran and hope he can salvage his career and earn another opportunity when he hits free agency. Mitchell Trubisky took a similar path, spending one year with the Buffalo Bills before earning another starting opportunity with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Jets do not want Zach Wilson on their roster, so they should be willing to take anything they can get in a trade. So, nobody is going to make the BYU product their starter, but they won’t have to give up anything more than a late-round pick for his services. Whether it’s someone looking for a high-upside backup or just competition for a young quarterback, these five teams could be interested in the former second-overall pick.
Best Team Fits
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is not getting any younger, and Stetson Bennett may or may not be available for the Los Angeles Rams. Carson Wentz is a good backup, but the former Eagles quarterback might have his sights set on a job with more playing time. If he leaves, the Rams could consider a Zach Wilson trade. Sean McVay is one of the best offensive minds in the league, and if he can’t fix Wilson, then nobody can.
Kansas City Chiefs
Well, nobody except for maybe Andy Reid. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the world, and nobody is challenging him for the starting job. However, the backup spot is wide open. Blaine Gabbert isn’t exactly a future Hall of Famer, and if the Chiefs want a high-upside option as a backup quarterback, they could trade for Zach Wilson. While Wilson isn’t the most consistent player by any stretch of the imagination, his athleticism means that the Chiefs wouldn’t have to change the playbook too dramatically if Mahomes had to miss a week or two of action.
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is one of the best young quarterbacks in the game, but Easton Stick is not. Stick did his best in Herbert’s absence, but the fact that the team couldn’t win a single game with him under center just goes to show that the Chargers need to upgrade the backup quarterback position. Over a decade ago, Jim Harbaugh took a seemingly broken Alex Smith and turned him into a respectable starter. Perhaps he can do the same if the Chargers trade for Zach Wilson.
New York Giants
The New York Giants will have Daniel Jones on the roster next year, but he might not finish the season as the starter. New York can get out of Jones’ contract pretty easily after 2024, so if he doesn’t improve, the team will cut bait. Tommy DeVito was fun, but he’s not an NFL-caliber quarterback. Zach Wilson is a better option, as the trade candidate will provide Jones with some competition throughout training camp.
Green Bay Packers
If any team knows the value of sitting a first-round quarterback, it’s the Green Bay Packers. After one year, Jordan Love looks like a franchise quarterback, and spending a few years under Rodgers probably helped his development. Perhaps Zach Wilson can spend the 2024 season learning under Love and providing valuable backup work after a low-cost trade.
Main Photo: Jasen Vinlove – USA Today Sports
