Zach Wilson is one of two unsigned first-round picks, and we’re now learning why the Jets franchise quarterback has yet to ink his rookie contract. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the No. 2 pick and the organization are in a staring contest over “cash flow and offset language.”
Specifically, the front office is hoping to “defer millions in signing bonus money” to 2022. Normally, top-two picks get all their signing bonus money up front; Florio cites Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, Washington defensive end Chase Young as recent examples who received their signing bonuses within 30 days of inking their respective rookie deals.
In fact, the Jets organization paid 2018 No. 3 pick Sam Darnold his entire signing bonus 15 days after his signing (Twitter link). Of course, as Florio notes, Joe Douglas can simply argue that it was Mike Maccagnan‘s regime that agreed to that arrangement.
Surely, one of the sides will blink. Presumably, it will be the Jets, who wouldn’t want to do anything to upset their franchise cornerstone before he’s even stepped on the field. Further, Wilson wouldn’t be in training camp without a deal, meaning the organization will be forced to move forward with James Morgan and Mike White as their top options. Assuming the organization wants to take a step forward in 2021, that scenario presumably wouldn’t sit right with anyone.
The Chargers inked first-round pick Rashawn Slater earlier today, leaving Wilson and 49ers quarterback Trey Lance as the only unsigned first-round picks.
They’re being cheap over a rookie deal on their new franchise QB? That’s not a great start.
The Jets are coming off a 2-14 season so you would think Douglas would be trying to build team morale but he is doing the exact opposite. It started by asking Jamison to take a 50% pay cut even though the team has plenty of cap space. Then it was Maye’s turn and now Wilson. Makes no sense at all.
J E T S
What a joke!
Jets, like SF, are having buyers remorse. They realize that Justin Fields was the pick.
None of these rookie QBs have played a down of pro football yet so the suggestion that anyone is experiencing buyer remorse seems laughable.
If the Jets weren’t already enough of a poverty franchise. This is just embarrassing, I would try to find any way out of town if I was him.
So … not to stick up for the Jets…. They need to have a veteran presence in place for Zach Wilson to work with and lean on. Unfortunately Greg Knapp was killed in a bicycle accident, I think he was this structure.
If they bring Wilson in without a support structure, his career will be over before week 1. This young man is getting set to walk into a building and be asked to play at the next level, with no one designed to say hello.
Take the time not to screw the young man up.
Not trying to be a jack a** but I’m not sure what part of your comment could be misread as one sticking up for the Jets. If anything it sounds negative toward the Jets
If the Jets need a guy to help Zach Wilson, why not consider contacting John Beck, with whom he consulted/worked with while at BYU? That relationship seems to have worked well. If the argument is over WHEN the bonus gets paid, then the Jets are being penny-wise and pound-foolish…it’s not worth it to create distance and mistrust between the front office and your eventual franchise quarterback over this, especially after the long history of ineptitude the Jets have had. Here’s your chance at a reset…do it right. Sorry to hear about Greg Knapp, I missed that story. Prayers for him and his family.
I think the Jets made a mistake drafting this guy over Trey Lance. Wilson looks way too young I am not sure he is going to be respected by veterans in the locker room. He looks like a 14 year old pop warner QB.
Wow Jets, are the johnsons bleeding money or something? They should be making money hand over fist right now but they acting like they bankrupt. I can understand the lowering of Crowder’s number some, but why wouldnt you pay Wilson. You are the number one in cap space now and not really close. keep future cap space even more open with paying majority of bonus now and be done with it.
Essentially it’s to set precedent for when they do git good. But being a tool to players isn’t a good idea when you have nothing going for you. Why any free agent would want to go the the jets is beyond me.
As a Jets fan, this seems like a very Jets thing to do… Just sign the kid already and let’s get this show on the road!
At least the Jets are consistent. It’s not like they never operated a football team before.
Everyone seems to be assuming it’s the cash flow, not the offset, that’s been blocking the signing? How do we know it’s not the offset language that’s the main issue, and the Jets are just holding onto the cash flow as a bargaining chip in order to keep the standard offset language. As I’m sure everyone understands, letting the player win on the offset would set a terrible precedent that would create for the Jets a small but long-term disadvantage against the rest of the NFL.