When the Jets spent the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Zach Wilson, the hope was they had found their franchise quarterback.
That never quite materialized. Wilson struggled across three seasons with the Jets and was benched several times by head coach Robert Saleh, with his Black Friday benching in favor of Tim Boyle effectively serving as the final nail in the coffin for his Jets career.
New York held onto Wilson during the 2024 NFL offseason, vowing not to part with him for nothing. Now, just days ahead of the draft, they have found a team willing to take on Wilson.
Denver had just two quarterbacks on its roster ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci. Wilson will join that crew as the team explores the possibility of adding another early-round quarterback prospect to compete for the role formerly held by Russell Wilson.
Here’s what to know about the Zach Wilson trade as the Jets and Broncos swap picks ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Zach Wilson trade details
Broncos get:
- QB Zach Wilson
- 2024 seventh-round pick (No. 256 overall)
Jets get:
- 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 203 overall)
The Broncos’ acquisition of Wilson is a fine move for the franchise. They had just two quarterbacks on their roster entering the 2024 NFL Draft, so Wilson will add depth and competition to that unit.
It’s also worth noting that Wilson was the second pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for a reason. The BYU product has an excellent arm and great mobility, so the hope was that he could become a quality playmaker in the NFL with the Jets. That never materialized, but Sean Payton will now get a crack at developing him.
Payton doesn’t have a great record with quarterbacks not named Drew Brees, but he still managed to get 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions from Russell Wilson last season. As such, it makes sense to take a flier on Zach Wilson’s raw talent.
If Wilson doesn’t work out, it won’t cost Denver much. The Broncos are just moving down 53 spots on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and the final day of this year’s draft is considered weaker than usual. Why? Fewer late-round underclassmen declared for the draft, as they are staying in school to capitalize on NIL deals while trying to improve their draft stocks.
Thus, the Broncos aren’t missing much by trading down.
As for the Jets, they just needed to part with Wilson during the offseason to give both the quarterback and the franchise a fresh start. They managed to do that while moving up from the penultimate pick in the draft to the middle part of the sixth round.
While that might not be a massive get for the Jets, it’s better than nothing. That’s what they would have received for Wilson if they left him on the back end of the roster for another year or released him at any point during the offseason.
