Time is nearing for Jets to cut Zach Wilson

Brian Costello

NFL

By Brian Costello

Jets general manager Joe Douglas held his pre-draft press conference on Friday in Florham Park.

A chunk of the 15-minute session with reporters was spent talking about a 2021 draft pick instead of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Douglas fielded several questions about the status of Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, who remains on the Jets’ roster despite the player and the team filing for divorce months ago. 

There was not much news to report. Wilson is not participating in the voluntary spring workouts, as you would expect. The team gave his agent permission to seek a trade months ago. The Jets have not found a taker. 

“Zach is an asset,” Douglas said. “At the same time, we’re obviously open to trading Zach. There have been discussions. Nothing has really changed since we talked down in Florida [at the March owners’ meetings]. We’re open to trading him. There’s just no news to report on that.” 

The “asset” part of that quote is the interesting thing. It echoes what owner Woody Johnson said last month at the owners’ meetings. Johnson said the team won’t release Wilson if they can’t find a trade partner.

Is it posturing? Maybe. 

But there also feels like a real sense around the Jets that they may not release Wilson if they can’t trade him. Johnson may not want to eat the $5.5 million guaranteed coming to Wilson this year. Any trade is going to involve the Jets paying a portion of his 2024 compensation, but the Jets clearly hope someone will take a chunk of that salary off their hands. Wilson is due a $4.4 million roster bonus at the start of training camp. If the Jets pay all of that, then moving on becomes even tougher to swallow. 

Next week’s draft feels like the best chance the Jets have left of trading Wilson. Most of the quarterback seats are taken, both starting and backup, or will be filled in the draft. But maybe there is a team that misses out on a quarterback target next week and is willing to take a flyer on Wilson. 

If the Jets can’t move him during the draft, it’s time to move on. 

The Jets should release Wilson if they wake up on Monday, April 29 and no trade has materialized. It’s time for the heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune to rip the Band-Aid off.

It would be exaggerating to call Wilson a distraction at this point. The situation is more like a hangnail. It is just annoying enough to irritate you. 

I want to emphasize I said the situation, not Wilson himself, who has stayed quiet since the end of the season. At some point, though, this could develop into more than just an annoyance. What if Wilson or his agent decide to start making noise to force their way out? Do the Jets really want Wilson coming to training camp as their third quarterback? Guess what? That will be the story of the day if that happens, not the new additions or the return of Aaron Rodgers.

The Jets remain optimistic that they can trade Wilson but it’s hard to see it right now. The market for failed 2021 quarterbacks has been set. The Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jaguars for a 2024 sixth-round pick. The Bears traded Justin Fields to the Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round pick that can become a fourth-rounder based on playing time. Both Jones and Fields are cheaper than Wilson and it can be argued they have shown more potential, particularly Fields. 

There is about to be a flood of optimism around the Jets. There always is after the NFL draft. Fans will be excited about whoever they add at No. 10. Rodgers is back on the practice field. They have added some exciting free agents. Wilson’s presence on the roster will be a drag on that. It is not worth it for the Jets to continue carrying him on the roster. 

For now, the story is Wilson staying away from the spring program. He should stay away. If you were Wilson, would you report to work for people who have clearly said they don’t want you around anymore? All of this is voluntary until June’s minicamp. 

“I think it’s each player’s choice whether they want to be here for phase one,” Douglas said. “These are all voluntary. There’s quite a few players that haven’t come for the first week. That’s a decision for Zach to make if he wants to be here.”

I think it’s pretty clear that Wilson no longer wants to be in Florham Park and the Jets no longer want him in Florham Park. 

If you can’t find him a new team next weekend, it’s time to finalize the divorce, Woody.