Zach Wilson's Rocky Journey: From Jets Bust to Broncos Backup

Zach Wilson, once considered a promising quarterback, has seen his career unravel in New York and now faces an uncertain future in Denver.

Zach Wilson's NFL journey began with high expectations when the New York Jets selected him with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, his tenure with the Jets was marred by inconsistency and poor play, leading to his eventual departure.

In 34 games (33 starts) over three seasons, Wilson completed just 57.0% of his passes for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. His 73.2 quarterback rating ranked near the bottom of the league among starting quarterbacks.

Wilson's struggles on the field were compounded by off-field controversies and a perceived lack of leadership. In 2022, he was benched twice due to poor play and questionable behavior, including a highly publicized incident where he missed a team meeting during a pivotal game.

Wilson's time with the Jets came to an end in March 2023 when he was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for draft picks. The move reunited him with former BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, who is now the Broncos' offensive coordinator.

In Denver, Wilson is expected to compete with former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and ex-New England Patriot Jarrett Stidham for the starting quarterback role. With veteran quarterback Russell Wilson no longer on the roster, there is an opportunity for Wilson to prove himself in a new environment.

In his first comments since the trade, Wilson expressed mixed emotions about his time with the Jets. "Obviously, there's bittersweet moments in everything," he said. "I was grateful for my experiences there and the guys. I miss the guys out there and everything, too. But at the same time, a fresh start is good. I'm excited to attack a new challenge."

Despite his struggles in New York, Wilson believes he has learned valuable lessons that will aid him in Denver. "I feel like you learn the most when things don't always go the best," he said. "So you bank those reps, you learn from them and three years of things being challenging, you're going to learn a lot of things. So hopefully, I can keep carrying those with me."

Wilson's future in Denver remains uncertain, but he is confident in his abilities and eager to prove his worth. "I'm excited to get to work and show what I can do," he said. "I'm just looking forward to the opportunity to compete and help this team win."