Jets normal supervisor Joe Douglas held his pre-draft press convention on Friday in Florham Park.
A piece of the 15-minute session with reporters was spent speaking a couple of 2021 draft choose as a substitute of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Douglas fielded a number of questions in regards to the standing of Zach Wilson, the No. 2 total choose in 2021, who stays on the Jets’ roster regardless of the participant and the workforce submitting for divorce months in the past.
There was not a lot information to report. Wilson just isn’t taking part within the voluntary spring exercises, as you’d anticipate. The workforce gave his agent permission to hunt a commerce months in the past. The Jets haven’t discovered a taker.
“Zach is an asset,” Douglas stated. “On the similar time, we’re clearly open to buying and selling Zach. There have been discussions. Nothing has actually modified since we talked down in Florida [at the March owners’ meetings]. We’re open to buying and selling him. There’s simply no information to report on that.”
The “asset” a part of that quote is the attention-grabbing factor. It echoes what proprietor Woody Johnson stated final month on the house owners’ conferences. Johnson stated the workforce received’t launch Wilson if they’ll’t discover a commerce accomplice.
Is it posturing? Possibly.
However there additionally looks like an actual sense across the Jets that they could not launch Wilson if they’ll’t commerce him. Johnson might not wish to eat the $5.5 million assured coming to Wilson this 12 months. Any commerce goes to contain the Jets paying a portion of his 2024 compensation, however the Jets clearly hope somebody will take a bit of that wage off their fingers. Wilson is due a $4.4 million roster bonus firstly of coaching camp. If the Jets pay all of that, then shifting on turns into even more durable to swallow.
Subsequent week’s draft looks like the very best probability the Jets have left of buying and selling Wilson. Many of the quarterback seats are taken, each beginning and backup, or might be stuffed within the draft. However possibly there’s a workforce that misses out on a quarterback goal subsequent week and is prepared to take a flyer on Wilson.
If the Jets can’t transfer him throughout the draft, it’s time to maneuver on.
The Jets ought to launch Wilson in the event that they get up on Monday, April 29 and no commerce has materialized. It’s time for the inheritor to the Johnson & Johnson fortune to tear the Band-Support off.
It might be exaggerating to name Wilson a distraction at this level. The state of affairs is extra like a hangnail. It’s simply annoying sufficient to annoy you.
I wish to emphasize I stated the state of affairs, not Wilson himself, who has stayed quiet for the reason that finish of the season. Sooner or later, although, this might become extra than simply an annoyance. What if Wilson or his agent resolve to start out making noise to power their manner out? Do the Jets really need Wilson coming to coaching camp as their third quarterback? Guess what? That would be the story of the day if that occurs, not the brand new additions or the return of Aaron Rodgers.
The Jets stay optimistic that they’ll commerce Wilson but it surely’s onerous to see it proper now. The marketplace for failed 2021 quarterbacks has been set. The Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jaguars for a 2024 sixth-round choose. The Bears traded Justin Fields to the Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round choose that may grow to be a fourth-rounder based mostly on enjoying time. Each Jones and Fields are cheaper than Wilson and it may be argued they’ve proven extra potential, significantly Fields.
There’s about to be a flood of optimism across the Jets. There at all times is after the NFL draft. Followers might be enthusiastic about whoever they add at No. 10. Rodgers is again on the follow discipline. They’ve added some thrilling free brokers. Wilson’s presence on the roster might be a drag on that. It’s not price it for the Jets to proceed carrying him on the roster.
For now, the story is Wilson staying away from the spring program. He ought to keep away. In case you have been Wilson, would you report back to work for individuals who have clearly stated they don’t need you round anymore? All of that is voluntary till June’s minicamp.
“I feel it’s every participant’s alternative whether or not they wish to be right here for section one,” Douglas stated. “These are all voluntary. There’s fairly a number of gamers that haven’t come for the primary week. That’s a call for Zach to make if he desires to be right here.”
I feel it’s fairly clear that Wilson now not desires to be in Florham Park and the Jets now not need him in Florham Park.
In case you can’t discover him a brand new workforce subsequent weekend, it’s time to finalize the divorce, Woody.
