Quarterback Zach Wilson has opted out of participating in the New York Jets’ voluntary offseason workouts as he remains intent on seeking a trade. However, progress on a potential deal has stalled.
With the NFL Draft approaching next week, it appears that teams are holding off to observe how they address their quarterback needs with the available prospects before committing to pursuing Wilson. Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas disclosed to reporters on Friday that talks with other teams have yielded no significant developments.
“Zach Wilson is a valuable asset, but we’re also willing to entertain trade offers for him,” Douglas stated, as reported by ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “We’ve engaged in discussions, but there hasn’t been any notable change since our previous conversations in Florida. We’re open to the idea of trading him; it’s just that there’s nothing new to report at this time.”
Joe Douglas says Zach Wilson is "an asset"
He follows up and says the Jets have had trade discussions involving him, but there is no news to report pic.twitter.com/hNtw7vlT3n
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) April 19, 2024
Wilson’s absence from the Jets’ offseason workouts, a departure from his previous three seasons of participation, suggests that he no longer sees a future for himself on the team’s roster. This absence also reflects his frustration with the lack of progress toward a trade.
The Jets have already addressed their backup quarterback position behind Aaron Rodgers by securing the services of free agent Tyrod Taylor on a two-year contract potentially worth up to $18 million. With Taylor, a seasoned veteran of 13 years, now in the fold, the team anticipates a more reliable alternative should Rodgers be unable to play.
Throughout last season, Wilson struggled with inconsistency and failed to demonstrate significant improvement. In 12 games, with 11 starts, the third-year professional completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The Jets managed a record of 4–7 in games where Wilson was under center.
A Zach Wilson Masterclass 🔥
🟩 27/36 completions
🟩 301 passing yards
🟩 2 touchdowns pic.twitter.com/aONtSo47Xi— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2023
Since being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Wilson has accumulated a 12–21 record as a starter over three seasons with the Jets, passing for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions.
Beyond his on-field performance, Wilson’s contract presents a potential hurdle to any trade negotiations. While he could be a good fit for teams like the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, or San Francisco 49ers, his guaranteed salary of $5.45 million for 2024 makes him a more expensive option than many teams would prefer for a backup quarterback. The willingness of the Jets to absorb a portion of this salary to facilitate a trade remains uncertain.
Although the Jets have the option to release Wilson, doing so would incur an $11.2 million hit on their salary cap, the same amount they would owe if Wilson remains on the roster. Consequently, both team owner Woody Johnson and general manager Joe Douglas have indicated that retaining Wilson is a possibility. However, this decision could potentially lead to unrest during training camp and ongoing drama throughout the season.
