Jets trade Zach Wilson to Broncos. Reactions and grades for Quarterback trade

Jack McKessy, USA TODAY
Updated

Five quarterbacks came off the board in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Only one remains with the team that drafted him.

Former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson will join that year's No. 3 overall pick, Trey Lance; No. 11, Justin Fields; and No. 15, Mac Jones in changing uniforms after the New York Jets traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos on Monday. No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence is still with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The full trade sends Wilson and a seventh-round – No. 256 overall – pick to Denver. The Jets receive a sixth-round pick – No. 203 overall – in return. The two teams are splitting the quarterback's $5.5 million salary for 2024.

Wilson, 24, is coming off of a turbulent third season in New York. Thrust into the starting role once again after Aaron Rodgers' Achilles injury in Week 1, the BYU product finished with a 4-7 record (5-7 including Week 1). He tallied 2,271 passing yards, eight touchdown passes and six interceptions with a career-high completion rate of 60.1%.

The former Jet now joins sixth-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham and 2023 XFL passing yards leader Ben DiNucci in the Broncos' quarterbacks room.

Here's how USA TODAY grades the trade as well as some of the best reactions to the trade from social media.

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) scrambles under pressure from Denver Broncos cornerback K'Waun Williams (21) in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High.
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) scrambles under pressure from Denver Broncos cornerback K'Waun Williams (21) in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High.

ZACH WILSON TRADE: Jets trade former No. 2 pick to Broncos, officially cutting bait on QB

Zach Wilson trade grades

USA TODAY's Nate Davis graded the trade for each side.

  • Denver Broncos: C+

    • Davis writes: "They move back 53 spots on Day 3 of the draft in order for Payton to assess a once highly regarded prospect. For a team that had to add to its quarterback room, might as well take a flier on physical talent for virtually nothing rather than hope a Brock Purdy clone materializes."

  • New York Jets: F

    • Davis writes: "There's no other way to assess Wilson's tenure other than an unmitigated disaster – especially when you consider the Jets could have taken WR Ja'Marr Chase, OT Penei Sewell, CB Patrick Surtain II or LB Micah Parsons instead while maybe giving Darnold a fighting chance. Heck, even Lance returned a fourth-rounder when he was dealt by the San Francisco 49ers to the Dallas Cowboys last summer."

Zach Wilson trade: Social media reactions

Here's how various football fans, analysts and media organizations reacted to the trade on X (formerly Twitter).

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zach Wilson trade sparks reactions, grades as Broncos trade with Jets

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