Would Bills Be Interested in Trade for Jets QB Zach Wilson?

If the Buffalo Bills look to upgrade their backup quarterback situation, don't expect them to join the Zach Wilson sweepstakes the New York Jets have opened.

Just because Zach Wilson has been involved in a few Buffalo Bills victories over the years doesn't mean that the franchise will look to bid for his services.

The New York Jets are officially closing the book on Wilson, the latest entrant to their scrapbook of franchise quarterback washouts, by allowing him to seek a trade elsewhere. Wilson's dreary professional resume (73.2 passer rating, 12-21 record as a starter) ensures there won't be much of a return if and when a deal is struck. 

But the presumed lack of major investment could inspire teams seeking to spice up their backup quarterback situation or simply looking for a passing project to work on (as the Jets perhaps somewhat envision by having Wilson work with Aaron Rodgers) to offer day three draft pick compensation. 

Don't, however, expect the Bills to get involved.

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In listing the potential Wilson destination, Zack Rosenblatt, the Jets insider for The Athletic, placed Buffalo in a category entitled "From what I hear, probably not happening," saying that "the Bills don’t seem to think highly of Wilson’s potential."

The Bills have been blessed in the passing department in more ways than one: not only have they secured the services of one of the most talented quarterbacks in recent NFL memory, but that thrower, Josh Allen, has stayed remarkably healthy, rendering the discussion around the backup spot relatively moot. Last season, for example, Allen took all but 38 Buffalo snaps, the outlier going to Kyle Allen (no relation) in garbage time.

Buffalo has obvious intentions to keep Josh Allen under center as long as they possibly can, which does away with the idea of grooming Wilson into the starter of the future. But the Bills have seen plenty of competitors' seasons go up in smoke after losing a starter to injury ... just look at the post-Rodgers Jets ... and would be wise to keep its understudy department well-stocked. The team is well-stocked in other areas but there's no doubt that Josh Allen has been the primary difference-maker. 

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It'd hardly be a surprise to see Buffalo add a passer to give Kyle Allen some competition for the No. 2 spot. But Wilson proved that even those duties were too much for him upon stepping in for the fallen Rodgers last season: armed with one of the top defenses in football and young talents like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, Zach Wilson posted a 4-7 record and was eventually usurped by both Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian.  


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