New York Jets Deal: $35 Million Backup QB Listed as Likely Trade Bait
The Denver Broncos should be the first team an NFL team calls if they’re in need of a backup quarterback in the upcoming weeks. Zach Wilson, the quarterback for Denver, is a prime contender to be dealt during the season, according to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, who pegged the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers as possible suitors.
On September 11, Knox wrote, “Like [Mac] Jones, Wilson had some impressive moments throughout the preseason that could stir up trade interest.” Wilson was ranked No. 6 on his “trade block big board.” At this point, two teams are obvious candidates. The Packers may require a new quarterback to get through the upcoming few weeks without [injured QB Jordan] Love. The Packers “have not reached out and are not anticipated” to pursue a seasoned signal-caller at this time, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. However, based on how backup Malik Willis performs in Week 2, that opinion may alter.
Wilson was the backup quarterback for the Broncos during their Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and was not on the active roster. During training camp, rookie Bo Nix defeated experienced Jarrett Stidham and Wilson for the starting quarterback position. In offseason, Zach Wilson was traded to the Broncos. The Broncos may be able to recover the assets they lost in the offseason trade of their 2024 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets if they can get another team to take a chance on Wilson as trade bait. For the Broncos, receiving a sixth- or seventh-round selection in return at this stage would be nothing short of a victory.
Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham are ahead of Wilson, another first-round disappointment from the 2021 rookie class, on the Denver Broncos depth chart, Knox noted. Wilson might be seen as a trade chip, even though Nix didn’t exactly have a great NFL debut. Due to Jordan Love’s injury in Week 1 and their lackluster backup in Willis, the Packers are dealing with uncertainty; yet, the Giants could be a viable choice given their seeming dumpster fire of a season. In a Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, starting quarterback Daniel Jones completed 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards and two interceptions.
Given that Jones is prone to injuries and that Drew Lock is his backup quarterback, the Giants may eventually require replacement players. Wilson might be put in the fire to give a season’s worth of credible impressions as an NFL quarterback. Wilson will eventually return to the starting lineup in the NFL, according to Broncos general manager George Paton. He possesses every beginning quality there is. In late August, Paton stated, “He’s still working through certain things,” as reported by the Denver Gazette. “You could see the really good game (against the Cardinals) last week.” He is as good a thrower as anyone in the league. In this league, I do believe he will start. In his first NFL stop, Wilson bombed out.