At the end of the season last year, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson said he would welcome a veteran quarterback into the room if the franchise moved in that direction.
But that welcome came with a motivated caveat.
“I’m going to make the dude’s life hell in practice every day,” Wilson said.
That dude, as it turns out, happens to be Wilson’s idol.
Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers has requested to play for the New York Jets, the quarterback announced on the Pat McAfee Show Wednesday. The details of the trade are being finalized, but it feels inevitable now that the Green Bay Packers will ship Rodgers off to New York.
“I made it clear ... my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers said. “And I haven’t been holding anything up at this point. It’s been compensation that the Packers are trying to get for me.”
The drawn-out saga, meanwhile, leaves former BYU quarterback, and former No. 2 overall pick, in a precarious spot.
Wilson was drafted to be the future at quarterback for the Jets, but has struggled to find his footing in the NFL. Last season, he was benched twice. The second time, when Wilson was replaced by former CFL quarterback Chris Streveler on national television, people questioned his future with the team. That day, he had a career-low 5.2 QBR as the offense struggled to move the ball.
“We haven’t seen the last of him yet,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh insisted that night.
The coach went on to say he still thought Wilson would be New York’s franchise quarterback. But now that looks to be in jeopardy.
For at least the foreseeable future, Wilson will be a backup. If the trade goes through, Rodgers will be under contract with the Jets until 2026. Whether he plays all three years or retires earlier remains to be seen.
The Jets have Wilson on a rookie contract until 2024. There is a team option for 2025. Because it is a rookie contract, it still makes sense for the Jets to keep Wilson as the backup. He is a cheaper option than other veteran quarterbacks. Wilson is set to make $940,000 in 2023 and slightly over $1 million in 2024.
