Zach Wilson landing spots: Three teams that make sense for Jets QB

Is Zach’s Fifth Avenue coming to a downtown near you?

The New York Jets and quarterback Zach Wilson are seemingly headed for a split this offseason, this much confirmed by Jets general manager Joe Douglas during the NFL scouting combine. Douglas told media that he has given Wilson permission to seek a trade, ending a chaotic and unsuccessful partnership between the two sides.

Wilson has been all but a bust after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Whether that’s organizational chaos or his own lack of production, Wilson hasn’t turned into the passer that some, including Jets brass, thought he would be. In total, Wilson will likely finish his tenure in green and white with 23 touchdowns to 25 interceptions, 6,293 passing yards and a 12-21 record.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) reacts on the sideline during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium.

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Quarterbacks don’t grow on trees and they typically come at a premium in the NFL, regardless of past success, or in Wilson’s case, a lack thereof. While it remains to be seen if Wilson’s next stop is a starter role – chances are, it won’t be – or a spot lower down the depth chart, a team will likely want to take a chance on him.

Here’s a few teams who may, and why the fits makes sense:

Zach Wilson landing spots

Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford hasn’t given any indication that he plans to retire, but nagging injury issues have been piling up in recent years. He missed two games in 2023 with a thumb injury, and missed time in 2022 with concussions and a spinal cord contusion. That means they’ll have to address the QB2 spot in earnest, especially with midseason signing Carson Wentz hitting free agency in the coming weeks. Wilson spending time on the bench behind the Super Bowl-winning quarterback will only benefit him – as will uniting with an offensive-minded head coach in Sean McVay, and a reuniting with former Jets OC Mike LaFleur.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers and Kyle Shanahan were rumored to be hot after Zach Wilson during the 2021 NFL Draft. Instead, they ended up with the No. 3 overall pick and took Trey Lance, a decision that … didn’t exactly work out for anyone involved. The 49ers may have found their QB of the future with Brock Purdy, but as Shanahan’s 49ers squads have discovered in recent years, QB2 – or QB3 – is crucially important, too. Wilson heading to the Niners to back up Purdy and give Shanahan a QB he reportedly wanted in the draft as a reclamation project may have its long-term benefits.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos have some cap moves to sort out before they’re players in free agency or the trade market, and the biggest move to make surrounds Russell Wilson and his future. Quarterback is a huge question mark this offseason, and a trade for Wilson would give at least a semi-moldable, young project for Sean Payton moving forward. The Broncos pick 12th in the 2024 NFL Draft, so they might be just out of striking distance of the top quarterbacks, but Payton and Co. will have time to figure out quarterback beyond just 2024.

Others

• Kirk Cousins will be coming off an Achilles injury and he’s expected to make his way back to Minnesota this offseason. The Vikings went through a QB shuffle of their own after Cousins’ injury, and the offensive-minded Kevin O’Connell may want to add a young piece to the room after this past season.
• The Saints got a pretty mixed bag of Derek Carr in Year 1, and Jameis Winston will all but assuredly hit free agency, as he’ll be due over $107 million if he’s on the roster on the third day of the new league year (March 16). New Orleans could look to the trade market to solve their woes.
• What will the Raiders do now with Jimmy Garoppolo set to be released? Perhaps a low-cost trade for Zach Wilson makes sense, considering they have a bevy of Day 3 picks and some cap space with which to work. They pick 13th in the upcoming draft, potentially out of reach for the top quarterbacks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zach Wilson landing spots: Three teams that make sense for Jets QB