New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson endured a torrid 2022 campaign which saw him benched before losing his spot as the starter, and is set for another blow with the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers in his hotly-anticipated trade - but things may have just got even worse for the 2020 NFL Draft lottery pick.
The Jets had already seemingly decided they would make Wilson their back-up quarterback for the upcoming 2023 NFL season, and haven't been shy about their much-publicised pursuit of Rodgers. Jets officials have been in talks with the Green Bay Packers for some time now trying to thrash out a deal, which is expected to be concluded before the NFL Draft at the end of April.
Now, however, it seems the quarterback could suffer another blow in his attempt to revitalise his NFL career, with news the Jets have acquired free agent Tim Boyle to bolster their options at the position. Boyle will likely come in as the third-string option, but his arrival will add another layer of pressure on Wilson.
Wilson is already facing a slippery slope at the Jets, but is expected to learn from Rodgers during the former Super Bowl winner and league MVP's time in New York. The 23-year-old is still under contract at MetLife for another two years, with the Jets holding the option to extend his current deal for another year.
By that point, Rodgers will likely have been and gone in the Big Apple. The 39-year-old is one year into his new $150million deal, and will be 44 by the time his contract expires.
The Jets were left with little choice but to bench Wilson last season, with the final straw coming after he threw just nine successful passes in a blowout defeat to the New England Patriots, with four sacks.
The acquisition of Boyle makes sense for another reason, however, and doesn't do much to dispel the rumours of Rodgers' arrival. Boyle was Rodgers' backup at the Packers for three years, and will essentially become the replacement for Joe Flacco.
Through his first two years of being the Jets head coach, Robert Saleh has tended to carry three quarterbacks on his roster, and the arrival of Rodgers will complete that setup for next season.
The Jets are expected to finalise the arrival of the Packers icon before the 2023 Draft, with the team still negotiating a package with Green Bay surrounding on trade picks for the future. The Packers apparently want at least two second-round picks, and could ask for a player to be thrown in as well.
