"That would give me great pause" - NFL insider wants Jets to relegate Zach Wilson to QB3 and sign former MVP as Aaron Rodgers' backup

Zach Wilson failed to secure the job as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets in his two years with the team. He was selected with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but hasn't yet lived up to the hype. This resulted in the Jets seeking a veteran replacement as their starter ahead of the 2023 NFL season.

All reports during the 2023 NFL offseason indicate that Aaron Rodgers is highly likely to be traded to the Jets. If this does in fact happen, he will obviously take over as the starter, making Zach Wilson a backup.

NFL insider Josina Anderson recently appeared on an episode of The Herd. She said that she doesn't think the Jets should use Zach Wilson as their primary backup quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers. She instead suggested that the team should sign Cam Newton and move Wilson even further down the depth chart.

Here's what Josina Anderson had to say about the situation:

"I think first and foremost, it shows a willingness to kind of accept the role that he is in right now just relative to him being out of the NFL for so long. And it really just makes me think about the Jets, because I think that right now, their QB2 situation is not tenuous if you think about the possibility, God forbid. Obviously, they've got to get Aaron Rodgers first. But if something were to happen to number 12 and he is injured and can't perform, is Zach Wilson really where they want to put all of their aspirations and hopes as far as putting that in his hands?

"When I think back to the Thursday Night Football game against the Jaguars, and that being the last time Zach Wilson performed before a national audience, and how he looked like a deer in the headlights, that would give me great, great pause. And I know that the Jets feel like as long as anyone is in a Jets uniform, we're going to do all our best to develop him and all that other stuff. And I'm not saying cut him and all that other stuff, but I think and I've been saying this in the New York and New Jersey market, is that I feel like Zach should be a QB3."

While Cam Newton has struggled to find consistent production in recent years, Anderson believes he's a more reliable option for the Jets' backup role. He's a former NFL MVP winner and has made a Super Bowl appearance, so his experience could potentially be useful in New York.

Cam Newton is willing to replace Zach Wilson as Jets' backup QB

Cam Newton

Cam Newton recently released a list of NFL teams that he would be willing to serve as a backup quarterback for. He was previously seeking a role as a starter, but those days appear to be behind him at this point in his career.

Signing Newton will give the Jets another veteran option, while also acquiring another weapon in their rushing game. He has recorded 822 rushing yards with 17 touchdowns across his last 20 starts.

The move would potentially move Zach Wilson to their third-string quarterback, allowing him to develop his game while holding a clipboard instead of being pressured to perform on the football field.