Jets open to keeping Wilson if he's not traded
Despite granting the quarterback permission to seek a trade, the New York Jets aren't ruling out bringing back Zach Wilson.
"If we don't trade him, we're going to keep him," Jets owner Woody Johnson told reporters Monday, including ESPN's Rich Cimini.
Johnson also described Wilson as a "valuable asset," contrasting the owner's February comments when he said New York needed "a backup quarterback. We didn't have one last year." However, Johnson appeared to walk back those remarks Monday, saying it wasn't fair to blame one person for the team's offensive struggles in 2023.
Although Johnson said New York could keep Wilson on the roster, he acknowledged that the 2021 second overall pick might benefit from a fresh start with a new team.
"He needs to be in a place where he can observe for a while. He's got the skill. He can do everything. There's a reason we drafted him No. 2 overall, and I have confidence that he'll get there at some point," Johnson said.
Wilson hasn't gotten much downtime to watch and learn in his first three NFL seasons. The Jets elevated Wilson into the starting role during his 2021 rookie campaign, and the signal-caller compiled 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He was also sacked 44 times.
The former BYU passer recorded 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions with a 60.1% completion rate in 2023 after starter Aaron Rodgers sustained a torn Achilles just four snaps into the campaign's first game. New York benched Wilson for the season's final two contests.
Jets general manager Joe Douglas said Monday that while the team has discussed trading Wilson, "nothing is close" to being done.
New York is optimistic about Rodgers' progress from his season-ending injury. The club also signed Tyrod Taylor in free agency to upgrade the backup quarterback position.
Wilson will earn $5.45 million guaranteed in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 and is set to account for an $11.1-million cap hit, according to Over the Cap.