The New York Jets have been grabbing a ton of headlines the last few days following former wide receiver Mecole Hardman’s appearance on a podcast. Hardman had a lot to say about the Jets, tearing into different coaches on the staff.
Players on the team weren’t having it, as they insinuated that Hardman was giving away their playbook and game plans to opponents throughout the season. Specifically, teams he had ties to in the Philadelphia Eagles, who have a ton of George alums, and the Kansas City Chiefs, his first team and the franchise the Jets eventually traded him to.
That wasn’t the only news coming out of Florham Park, as it was revealed that the team has given quarterback Zach Wilson approval to seek a trade. While appearing at the NFL Combine on Wednesday, general manager Joe Douglas shared that information.
NFL News & Rumors: Zach Wilson & New York Jets Updates
“I’m going to circle back with Brian (Ayrault, Wilson’s agent) at some point this week or next week just to see how those conversations go,” Douglas said. “But other than that, there’s nothing else to report.”
There was no indication as to whether Wilson had requested the trade, but it comes as no surprise that a change of scenery will likely occur. Wilson was benched again last season after coming on in relief of Aaron Rodgers in Week 1.
He returned to the lineup after New York realized Tim Boyle was a worse option, but it was faced with hesitancy. There were reports Wilson didn’t want to start again, fearful that he would get injured behind a bad offensive line.
The No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft did return to the starting lineup and his fears became a reality. He was injured in Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins, suffering what was eventually diagnosed as a concussion.
NFL News & Rumors: Zach Wilson & New York Jets Updates
The writing has been on the wall for a while in regard to Wilson’s departure from New York. Owner Woody Johnson specifically naming backup quarterback as a need this offseason, saying the team didn’t have one in 2023, was the last nail in the coffin.
It will be interesting to see what kind of interest Wilson drums up on the trade market. He will turn only 25 in August and could be seen as a reclamation project for a franchise looking to develop a younger player behind an older veteran. The Los Angeles Rams fit that bill, as do the New Orleans Saints.
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