Could the New York Jets and Washington Commanders swap quarterbacks this coming offseason?
Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac poses the possibility.
Ginnitti suggests that the Jets trade Zach Wilson and a fifth-round draft pick to the Commanders in exchange for Sam Howell, who has struggled mightily the past couple of weeks.
He says that Washington moving Howell would allow the Commanders to feel comfortable selecting their next franchise signal-caller in this year’s NFL Draft.
Meanwhile, Howell would be able to learn under Aaron Rodgers for at least one season in New York before potentially taking over the starting role sometime down the line after Rodgers retires.
In Wilson’s case, he would get a fresh start in Washington, but it would almost certainly be in a backup role. The former No. 2 overall pick was pressed into starting duty for the Jets this season after Rodgers tor his Achilles on New York’s first offensive series of Week 1.
Through 12 games and 11 starts in 2023, Wilson has thrown for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 60.1 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 77.2.
While the BYU product has shown some flashes of brilliance, they have been few and far between, and for the most part, Wilson has been a major disappointment since entering the league in 2021.
Howell was taken by the Commanders in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and got his first chance of being the club’s full-time starter under center this season.
He has responded by throwing for 3,624 yards, 19 touchdowns and a league-worst 17 picks while completing 63.2 percent of his passes and registering a passer rating of 80.5. He has been benched in favor of veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, indicating that Washington may be preparing to move on from him after the season.
The Jets and Commanders are obviously in two different situations. New York knows who it’s quarterback will be next year. Barring any other health issues, it will be Rodgers. Washington, on the other hand, is still searching, but it seems to be getting clearer and clearer that Howell is not the long-term answer.
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