Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets, said Monday that the team will keep Zach Wilson if the team can’t trade him. Perhaps trading the struggling quarterback isn’t as easy as initially thought. Last month, Woody Johnson criticized Wilson’s quarterback play in the 2023 season. Since then, he has changed his tune on the BYU product.
The Jets signed Tyrod Taylor, 34, to a two-year, $12 million deal. Woody Johnson is expected to add a third quarterback, perhaps a rookie. Wilson has a year left on his rookie contract and is due $5.5 million in salary and bonuses.
Is Woody Johnson Committed to Wilson?
Ideally, the Jets would like to trade Wilson and clear the $5.5 million from their cap. However, it is highly unlikely that a team would grab a 12-21 quarterback with more interceptions than touchdowns. If Woody Johnson were to release Wilson, the Jets would still have to pay him the $5.5 million. Additionally, the team would be without any cap relief.
In February, general manager Joe Douglas announced that Wilson and his agent were permitted to seek a trade from the team. At this point, it looks like that Wilson, who was benched twice last season, wants to move on.
Woody Johnson might have hurt Wilson’s trade value when he said at the NFL Honors in Las Vegas, “We need a backup quarterback. We didn’t have one last year.” He later backtracked, saying it was unfair to single out one player. Two of Wilson’s draft class members, Mac Jones and Justin Fields, have been traded this offseason.
Since then, Johnson has changed his tone on Wilson. The change in tone seems to be a move to improve Wilson’s value in the trade market. From the team’s perspective, keeping Wilson wouldn’t make sense if it would result in more distractions and rumors, which are the last thing a team desperate for a winning season needs.
How Did Zach Wilson perform for Woody Johnson in 2023?
Wilson took over under center for the Jets after Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. The BYU product went 4-7 as a starter, throwing for 2,271 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was 221 of 368 passing before being benched late last season.
Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian did little to improve the Jets’ lackluster offense, leading to their missing the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season. Thus, a dominant Woody Johnson Jet defense that was third overall in the league and second against the pass.
Luckily for the Jets, some reliable options, such as P.J. Walker, Ryan Tannehill, and Carson Wentz, are available on the quarterback market. Maybe the Jets could use a draft pick on a passer.
Conclusion
It remains to be seen if Woody Johnson can find a team looking to grab Wilson. Given his poor recent play, chances are highly unlikely. However, Wilson could benefit from a fresh start and show the world why he’s the No. 2 overall pick in 2021. As the draft and the rest of the offseason approaches, Woody Johnson will have much on his plate come the 2024 season.
Main Image: Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
