Insider addresses latest trade rumors about Jets' Zach Wilson

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested on Monday that some members of the NFL community believed New York Jets owner Woody Johnson was keeping a trade of much-maligned quarterback Zach Wilson from happening this offseason. 

 Jets insider Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reported Wednesday that he's learned "that’s not what transpired." 

Rosenblatt said that "Wilson’s camp might be trying to drum up interest" as Jets general manager Joe Douglas shops the 24-year-old after Mac Jones and Justin Fields were essentially traded for pennies on the dollar considering when they were drafted by their first employers. 

The Jets originally made Wilson the second overall pick of the 2021 draft. 

"Some teams had been asking about Wilson to gather info about him earlier in the offseason, but none showed enough interest to seriously pursue him either," Rosenblatt explained. "The Jets are running into a few issues here: Wilson’s cap hit for the acquiring team ($5.4M), the feeling that he might be released anyway and the fact that for the majority of teams that might even consider adding him, he wouldn’t even be a lock to make the 53-man roster." 

Wilson famously lacked accountability after a loss in the fall of 2022, was benched multiple times across the past two seasons, seemingly had a falling out with future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers and allegedly was "reluctant" to start for the Jets in December. According to Pro-Football-Reference, Wilson ended the 2023 regular season ranked last in the NFL with a 30.6 adjusted QBR, 30th with a 77.2 passer rating and 30th with a 60.1% completion percentage. 

Johnson surprised many when he said on Monday that the Jets are "going to keep" Wilson if they can't find a trade partner. Former Jets starter Boomer Esiason essentially scoffed at Johnson's comments on Tuesday, and Rosenblatt echoed Esiason's take. 

"Don’t put too much stock into those words," Rosenblatt said about Johnson's declaration. "Wilson will not be a Jet this season, and they might have no choice but to cut him." 

Rosenblatt predicted that a Wilson trade occurring after the draft that runs from April 25 through April 27 "feels like the most likely outcome," as at least one club that misses out on a signal-caller during the player-selection process may take a flier on the veteran of three seasons. In short, the Wilson-Jets saga could continue until right before training camp practices open around the country.