The Green Bay Packers’ decision to move on from Aaron Rodgers last off-season was met with a ton of criticism. One year later both the Jets and Packers have championship aspirations heading into the 2024 season. Something not many would have anticipated.
Rodgers is looking to return from his torn Achilles in a big way and prove to the league that he hasn’t lost a step. However, before the season even started the Jets decided to move on from one of his closest teammates.
Former Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Loses Another Surprising Teammate Ahead Of The 2024 Season
According to Jason Owens of YahooSports.com:
The New York Jets have traded quarterback Zach Wilson and a seventh-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos announced the trade on Tuesday, confirming multiple Monday reports.
The Jets will receive a sixth-round pick in return and will reportedly pay part of Wilson’s $5.5 million salary next season.
Wilson joins the Broncos after three failed seasons in New York. The Jets selected Wilson with the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft with hopes that he could develop into their long-awaited franchise quarterback. He instead was benched repeatedly for poor play in his first two seasons before the Jets moved on to acquire Aaron Rodgers prior to the 2023 season.
Wilson got another shot to start when Rodgers tore his Achilles on his first drive as New York’s quarterback. He continued to struggle through 11 starts in 2023 as the Jets finished a disappointing 7-10 and out of the playoffs. Now he has a new home.
Does This Impact Rodgers At All?
Rodgers, 40, underwent surgery last September and spent the regular season splitting between California and New Jersey, rehabilitating aggressively in anticipation of returning to the field in the playoffs. As a “scout” quarterback, he threw passes against the Jets’ top-rated defense after being added back to the 53-man roster in December.
Rodgers’ contract was reworked by the Jets so that he would remain with the team beyond 2024. The two sides seem to want to continue this run at least a few more years.
The Jets moving on from Wilson means the team is back to the drawing board when it comes to their next long-term franchise quarterback. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them take a top rated quarterback in one of the few drafts.
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