Zach Wilson’s mother quickly responded on social media to her son being traded.
On Monday, April 22 the New York Jets sent Wilson and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Denver Broncos in return for a 2024 sixth-rounder, according to the NFL Media group.
Lisa Wilson reposted a message on her Instagram story featuring the breaking news trade graphic with the caption, “YAHOOOOO!!!!! We are so excited for you Zach!”
Later, she shared more photos and videos on her Instagram story of her family’s reaction to the news.
Lisa posted a 17-second video clip displaying all of the new Broncos gear they had bought, along with matching blue and orange balloons. Zach’s father already received a Denver jersey.
Additionally Lisa shared another message in response to the trade, “Excited for a fresh new start. Let’s go!”
Jets Make Clean Start This Offseason
Jason Fitzgerald from Over The Cap said, “For the Jets to not have to pay all of Wilson’s roster bonus was a big win for the Jets.”
Former sports agent Joel Corry said on social media that the Jets did better than he thought they would with this deal. “Eating Zach Wilson’s entire $4.398,274 fully guaranteed 3rd day of training camp roster bonus wouldn’t have surprised me.”
Better than I expected for the Jets with salary. Eating Zach Wilson's entire $4,398,274 fully guaranteed 3rd day of training camp roster bonus wouldn't have surprised me. https://t.co/TqNsyiFNvx
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) April 22, 2024
At the Annual League Meeting, Jets Owner Woody Johnson referred to Wilson as a “valuable asset” and emphatically stated that they wouldn’t just release him if they were unable to find a trade.
It seemed to be merely a leverage play from Johnson who didn’t want to hurt Wilson’s value any further on the trade market. Thankfully this didn’t have to drag on beyond the draft and become any more uncomfortable.
The Jets get to wash their hands of this and make a clean break. While Wilson gets a fresh start to restart his NFL career.
Wilson Has Opportunity for an NFL Career Turnaround
“What Sean Payton is going to focus on here with Zach Wilson is getting Zach Wilson to do exactly what he tells him to do. Play in the system, play to your strengths, we are going to put playmakers around you, just basically break him down to the most basic level,” NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero explained to Colin Cowherd on “The Herd.” “If anybody can get the most out of Zach Wilson, it’s going to be Sean Payton.”
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic called the Broncos the “likeliest destination” for Wilson over the last several weeks.
For Wilson, he gets a chance to work with an offensive guru and he has a path to a starting role. The Denver quarterback room consists of Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci. Neither of those players are proven let alone world-beaters.
Wilson, 24, has not lived up to the billing as the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. In 33 career starts the former BYU product has thrown more interceptions (25) than touchdown passes (23). He has also struggled with accuracy only completing 57% of his passes across three seasons.
