Zach Wilson skips NY Jets offseason workouts amidst trade rumors

The NY Jets officially kicked off the first stage of their offseason program on Monday with players reporting to the team's facility for voluntary offseason workouts. One individual not in attendance is quarterback Zach Wilson.

This shouldn't come as much of a surprise given that Wilson has been the subject of trade rumors for months. The expectation dating back to the middle of last season is that Wilson would not be on the Jets' roster in 2024.

While the former No. 2 overall pick is still under contract at the time of writing, his days with the Jets are very clearly numbered. A trade is expected to happen any day now, with both sides looking for a fresh start.

Jets owner Woody Johnson attempted to save face and salvage whatever trade value Wilson had left when speaking to reporters last month, but the outcome of this situation feels inevitable. Wilson will either be traded or outright released — no matter what Johnson says publicly — in the near future.

The NY Jets are still expected to part ways with Zach Wilson

Wilson has been in attendance for the offseason program in each of his previous three seasons with the Jets, even last year when he was relegated to backup duty. The circumstances have changed dramatically over the last year, however.

Wilson was reportedly promised a change of scenery in the middle of last season before being thrust back into the starting lineup following Tim Boyle's immense struggles. While Wilson did eventually agree to return, the damage had been done.

There isn't a scenario in which the Jets can move forward with Wilson on their roster in 2024 — that bridge has been burned. The Jets signed veteran Tyrod Taylor to be their primary backup quarterback, and it's very possible they add a QB at some point in next week's draft.

That leaves Wilson without a role on the team. His best bet is likely to find a new home where he can compete for a roster spot as a third-string quarterback. It's hard to imagine any situation in which he's a team's QB2 in 2024.

While the majority of the Jets' roster, Aaron Rodgers included, has returned to Florham Park ahead of the NFL Draft, Wilson is nowhere to be found. His time with the Jets will be coming to an end very, very soon.

It's time for both sides to put this unfortunate chapter behind them.