Report: Jets Don’t Intend to Trade Zach Wilson amid Links to Rodgers, Carr, Garoppolo | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

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The New York Jets figure to be very active in the quarterback market this offseason, but they also aren’t necessarily looking to get rid of 2021 second overall pick Zach Wilson.

Per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe on Saturday, the Jets don’t intend to trade Wilson because they hope he can learn and develop more while playing as a backup in 2023.

Howe cited Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr as two starting options for the Jets next season. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Friday there is an expectation around the NFL that the Jets “will at least try to make something happen” with Rodgers.

This has been a common refrain from reporters even before the end of the regular season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Jan. 1 that general manager Joe Douglas doesn’t plan to shop Wilson.

“The team views Wilson as an incredibly hard worker, a good teammate and very smart. He has handled his demotions well and kept working,” Rapoport wrote.

There are several reasons for the Jets not to give up on Wilson at this point.

It’s hard to imagine he has any positive trade value based on his struggles over the past two seasons, and the Jets would also have to eat a $20.8 million dead cap hit in 2023 if they move on from Wilson.

Wilson has been a draft bust, though. The 23-year-old has thrown for 4,022 yards with 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 22 starts over the past two seasons.

Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reported after the Jets’ 10-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 11 that Wilson rubbed some of his teammates the wrong way over a perceived lack of accountability for his performance in the game.

Wilson was benched in favor of Mike White after that game. He was inactive in Weeks 13 and 14, with Joe Flacco serving as the backup.

After White suffered a rib injury in a Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Wilson returned to the starting lineup the next week against the Detroit Lions. He was benched for a second time in the third quarter of a 19-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after throwing for 92 yards and one interception.

Regardless of the Jets’ plan for Wilson this offseason, they need to find a quarterback who is capable of playing consistent football from week to week in 2023 to support a defense that ranked fourth in the NFL in points allowed.