Jets Quarterback Zack Wilson Trade Rumors: California Dreaming?

New York Jets struggling quarterback Zach Wilson has been linked to a pair of west coast suitors via recent trade rumors.

While the working relationship between the New York Jets and quarterback Zach Wilson appears to be reaching its end, a pair of prominent suitors may be emerging for his services.

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are among potential landing spots for Wilson, per a recent report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. With both expected to be in the market for a backup quarterback, the 2021 No.2 overall draft pick may benefit from working within a successful system on offense. 

Though it appears that neither San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, nor Los Angeles’ Matthew Stafford would be challenged by Wilson for their respective spots as starting quarterback, the BYU product may bring value in a reserve role. 

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Wilson has appeared in 34 games (33 starts) over three seasons with the Jets. During that span, he completed 57 percent of his passes for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Despite being displaced as New York’s starter in each of his three campaigns in a Jets uniform, Wilson has demonstrated an ability to deliver in clutch situations — orchestrating three fourth-quarter comebacks and two game-winning drives last season. Wilson finished the year by completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,271 yards with eight scores and seven interceptions in relief of injured starter Aaron Rodgers. 

Of course, the Jets should not expect a sound return on investment for his services. In early February, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported a potential package for Wilson would include a sixth-or seventh-round draft pick as compensation. In fact, one scout believed the Jets would be “lucky” to get a seventh-round pick, while an unnamed NFL assistant joked that he wouldn’t pay more than “a two-week stay at a Best Western.”

Although both the Niners and Rams make sense for Wilson on the surface, there are also reasons to doubt the fit. During his tenure in New York, as well as his time as an assistant to Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur (2021-22) ran a balanced offense, which he has continued to do in Los Angeles under head coach Sean McVay. Not only does he incorporate generous use of the run to facilitate play action, but he also proportionately mixed in passing plays, as well. 

In the interest of both fairness and honesty, Wilson failed to execute LaFleur’s offense at high-level of competency. During his two years under the former Jets coordinator, Wilson completed only 345 passes for 4,022 yards, 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. 

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Additionally, Wilson’s reportedly rocky relationship with Jets head coach Robert Saleh, may give Shanahan some degree of pause when pursuing the quarterback. Saleh served as Shanahan’s defensive coordinator in San Francisco from 2017-2020. 

Regardless of where his future indeed lies, it is becoming more evident that Wilson having played his final down in a Jets uniform is all but a foregone conclusion. 

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