The New York Jets have reported to training camp.
However, there is one notable member not there yet.
He is first-round draft pick and presumptive starting quarterback Zach Wilson.
Wilson’s first-round counterparts have signed their deals, including Trey Lance.
#49ers QB Trey Lance has officially signed his rookie contract and will report to training camp, per @CAA_Football #Jets QB Zach Wilson remains as the last unsigned first-round pick 👀 pic.twitter.com/nhmN3vlRyS
— PFF (@PFF) July 28, 2021
The Jets and Wilson have not yet reached a deal on his rookie contract so he is a holdout.
Rookie contract dollars are established per the NFL Players Association so a difference on terms, presumably offset language, is the hang up.
In very simplistic terms, offset language relates to who pays Wilson’s contract if he is released by the Jets and picked up by another team.
These are technicalities, and the longer this drags on, the more Jets fans have reason to be concerned.
It’s amazing to me that the Packers figured out Rodgers situation before the Jets signed Zach Wilson. Just get the contract done, you’ve had 3 months..
— Willy Hansen (@whansen_) July 28, 2021
Here are the reasons why.
3. He Is Projected To Start Week 1
Sam Darnold is gone.
Reading down the depth chart beyond Wilson, the Jets have third-year player Mike White and rookie James Morgan.
That means there is not a wealth of experience behind Wilson which makes Wilson’s holdout a lot more detrimental to the team.
#Jets QB Zach Wilson is not on the field as practice gets underway. Mike White and James Morgan (combined 0 regular season attempts) are taking snaps. Not great.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 28, 2021
2. He Needs Practice Time With Offense
While this is an obvious fact, it cannot be overlooked.
How can Wilson build chemistry and work on his timing with his receivers if he is not in camp?
He probably is studying the playbook despite holding out, but there is a difference between knowing the playbook and executing it.
Wilson also needs to see NFL-caliber defensive players across the line of scrimmage from himself and the offense.
He is no longer at BYU; these are professional athletes whose size and speed he may not have seen the likes of during his college career.
1. Jets Have New Coach
Zach Wilson is stepping into a challenging QB room for the @nyjets
-no QB on roster has taken a snap in NFL. First team to have that in 8 years. 0 experience
-first time play-caller in Mike Lafluer
-real adversity in the sudden and tragic loss of great man/QB Coach Greg Knapp🙏— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) July 28, 2021
As if there is not enough turnover in New York, the Jets have a rookie head coach with Robert Saleh.
It is really hard for a new coach to establish the culture and focus for the team when the quarterback is not there.
Saleh has his own system that he wants to institute with Wilson and the other offensive players.
On top of all of these new and changing parts that take time to install, the Jets have to deal with the tragic death of their passing coach, Greg Knapp, who died last week from injuries suffered during a bicycle accident.
The Jets have a learning curve to begin climbing, and time is ticking.
They open the preseason on August 14 with a game with their fellow MetLife Stadium occupant, the New York Giants.
That’s less than three weeks away.
Conclusion
It is extremely unlikely the Jets will allow these contract discussions to linger.
They will be resolved soon.
If they have faith in their first-round pick being the future of the franchise, they will tie up these loose ends now because the success of the Jets hinges upon it.
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