Johnson doesn’t rule out Wilson’s return to Jets

About a month ago, Jets general manager Joe Douglas told reporters during the NFL Combine that the team has given Zach Wilson permission to seek a trade.

However, Wilson remains on the Jets roster during this week’s annual meetings.

Is there a chance Wilson could remain with the Jets for the 2024 season?

“If we don’t trade him, we are going to keep him,” Jets owner Woody Johnson said. “It is possible he can do it here.”

“It probably would be better from his standpoint that he gets to a new place and he can wipe the slate clean.”

Johnson was critical of Wilson and his performance when asked about it during the NFL Honors Red Carpet in February.

“We need a backup quarterback,” Johnson said. “We didn’t have one last year.”

But on Monday, Johnson backtracked a bit on those comments after calling Wilson “a valuable asset.”

“I feel badly about Zach,” Johnson said. “Last year would have been the first time where he can just sit back and watch a master at work and he’s never had that.

“He has been under fire from Day 1. I think that’s what he needs. He needs to be in a place where he can observe for a while. He got the skill, he can do everything.

“There’s a reason why we drafted him at No. 2 overall. I have confidence he will get there at some point.”

Wilson struggled after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and was ultimately benched late in the 2022 season. After the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers last April, the team hoped to redshirt Wilson so he could sit back and observe for a season.

Of course, that didn’t happen after Rodgers, 40, tore his Achilles four plays into the Jets’ season opener against the Bills. That’s when Wilson once again became Gang Green’s starting quarterback.

But Wilson showed the same inconsistencies as his first two seasons in the league. He passed for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 60.1% of his passes.

The Jets came into this offseason hoping to find better veteran backup quarterback insurance. They eventually signed Tyrod Taylor, 34, to a two-year, $18 million contract.

It is also possible the Jets could add another quarterback to their room during next month’s draft.

“We have full confidence in Aaron and obviously Tyrod,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. We are going to add another quarterback to the room.

“You have to come to camp with three or four guys, so that room isn’t necessarily done either.”

Wilson has one year left on his rookie contract and is scheduled to make $5.7 million. If the Jets cannot trade Wilson, they could release him, but they would absorb a $11.1 million dead money salary cap. If a team wants to trade for Wilson, the Jets would save $5.7 million.

It is also possible that the Jets would have to eat a few million dollars to facilitate a trade.