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Zach Wilson is not the guy for the New York Jets, and after being booed off by his fans, the team is looking at options to replace him.
He arrived in the Big Apple with a good personality and a good college film reel. However, he was elevated because of how desperate the Jets were for a quarterback and how good Trevor Lawrence was.
The pressurized nature of the market in New York has swallowed him whole, and it looks as though he will not get another chance with the team after around 20 starts. Now, questions turn to who can replace the former second-overall draft choice.
The New York Jets won't get the chance to select one of 2023's best quarterback prospects; their record will be too strong.
As such, the best hope comes in the offseason in either free agency or with a trade.
Who are the New York Jets' top 3 candidates to replace Zach Wilson in 2023?
3. Brock Purdy
2022's Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, has been a revelation since deputizing for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco.
While the 49ers saw something in him to draft him, nobody expected him to have the impact in the NFL that he has done.
Jimmy Garoppolo benefited greatly from short cameo appearances with the New England Patriots, and you wonder if the same will happen for Purdy.
After having a taste of life as an NFL starter, he won't want to give it up. Can you honestly say, based on his form, that he wouldn't be one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the league in 2023?
Furthermore, the 49ers can utilize his massive increase in value to leverage potential trades in their favor.
The Niners are expected to lead the chase for free-agent Tom Brady, and if successful, they will need to clear the decks.
Trey Lance is also still present, and he was a specific wish of Kyle Shanahan two years ago.
The New York Jets could manipulate this situation to their advantage. Purdy has shown a calmness under center that has been missing for Gang Green.
Purdy also wouldn't come with a massive cap hit, given he's on a rookie contract, so even if the move doesn't work out, the Jets haven't lost out, provided they don't give up the farm in picks.
2. Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is locked into an ironclad contract with the Green Bay Packers. In reality, a trade is the least likely outcome for him in 2023. Common sense would suggest he will either suit up for the Green Bay Packers or retire.
It isn't impossible, though, especially with Green Bay themselves starting to feel a sense of buyer's remorse with his contract extension.
Rodgers has started to decline, and the team needs to see more from Jordan Love to decide on what they have in the young quarterback.
If the Packers want to cut Rodgers loose, it will cost them a significant amount in dead cap, but this can be swallowed if the return in a trade is too good to refuse.
The New York Jets have never been able to get an elite quarterback in his prime.
Joe Flacco arrived a shell of his former self, but Rodgers is only one year removed from winning back-to-back MVP awards.
His leadership would help a young team dramatically, and he would also have dynamic receiving weapons in Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore.
Breece Hall has the talent to be the best running back in the NFL, and pairing Rodgers with him upon his injury return could create an explosive offense.
1. Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo is the NFL's version of purgatory. He is too good not to be a starting quarterback, but he doesn't quite have what it takes to lead a team to the Super Bowl.
For the moment, the New York Jets would take a playoff return as a glorious success. Garoppolo has carefully managed an offense well in San Francisco, leading the Niners to a Super Bowl appearance. Furthermore, he knows Robert Saleh from working together in Santa Clara.
His contract with the Niners has been problematic concerning a trade in the summer of 2022, but he will be a free agent in 2023. This makes him attainable, and the Jets won't have to fork out any picks. New York have the cap space to make such a signing, and he'd be a marked improvement on Zach Wilson.
You can rely on Jimmy G. You've not been able to say that about a Jets quarterback in years. It's clear that this team is going in the direction of being a run-first offense.
Breece Hall will be given the keys in 2023 once he returns from injury. Garoppolo won games with Shanahan's run-centric offense in San Francisco and is the perfect fit for what the New York Jets are trying to do. He is their No. 1 quarterback target in 2023, with good reason.
