REPORT: NY Jets told Zach Wilson he will be traded in the offseason
Zach Wilson’s time with the NY Jets might be coming to an end at the end of the season. At least, that’s what a report from Doug Robinson of the Utah-based Deseret News is reporting.
Robinson reported late Friday night that the Jets have told Wilson that he will be traded in the offseason. The report states that Jets head coach Robert Saleh met with Wilson after his initial benching earlier in the year, and the two sides agreed to mutually part ways at the end of the season.
Now, is this report trustworthy? That’s anyone’s guess. But it’s fair to point out that this is a relatively well-respected newspaper outlet from Utah — an outlet that covers BYU sports. They have a direct connection to Wilson and this story.
It also doesn’t take an insider to speculate that Wilson’s days with the Jets are numbered. It makes all the sense in the world for the two sides to attempt to work out a trade this offseason.
A Zach Wilson trade feels inevitable for the NY Jets
The other part of this report that’s notable is the timing of the supposed discussion between Wilson and Saleh. If Wilson and the Jets agreed to part ways this offseason a few weeks ago, that would certainly make the third-year QB’s reported “reluctance” to play again more reasonable.
After all, if a player is benched and essentially told they won’t play another game for that team, it’s a tough sell to ask them to start again just two weeks later. Robinson’s report does align with what The Athletic reported earlier in the week.
Now, trading Wilson isn’t as easy as it sounds. The former BYU star has a fully guaranteed $11.18 million salary in 2024. Trading him at any point in the offseason would incur a dead cap charge of $5.73, and they’d need to find a team willing to take on the remainder of his salary.
$5 million is a hefty price for a backup quarterback, especially one that hasn’t even proven to be a consistent QB2. Perhaps the Jets can find a team willing to pay the premium to take a chance on Wilson’s talent, however.
It’s become increasingly clear that a change of scenery is needed for both sides. Wilson is better off trying to find a home with a new team where he can start fresh, and the Jets are better off going into next season with a more reliable and proven backup quarterback.
The Jets and Zach Wilson appear to be headed for a split in the near future. Now, all that’s left to see is how Wilson’s play over the final five weeks of the season will affect his trade value.
