WDHA’s 2-Minute Drill – What’s Ahead For the Jets and Zach Wilson

The Aaron Rodgers era ended for the New York Jets pretty much before it even had a chance to get off the ground.

This morning on the WDHA 2-Minute Drill, Jim Monaghan and Chris Swendeman discuss what lies ahead for the Jets and QB Zach Wilson.

JIM MONAGHAN - Friday morning and the Two-Minute Drill here at 105.5 WDHA on the Morning Jolt. I'm Jim Monaghan and of course with me every week is Chris Swendeman. Swendy, the big news, the Jets, and not for the right reasons.
CHRIS SWENDEMAN - Monday Night Football. Literally four plays into his career, Aaron Rodgers blows his Achilles. Gone for the season already. It just sums up the Jets. It's the Jets being a Jet. There's nothing else you could say about it. You can't even make this up if you tried.

JM - People were so excited about this game. It was, in the ESPN era, the most watched Monday Night Football game ever. Jets fans with legit Super Bowl thoughts. We were saying a couple of weeks ago, even at 75%, Aaron Rodgers is still better than anybody they had. And now, well, they have to turn to Zach Wilson. And I honestly don't know if he's up to the challenge or not. Not that he has much of a choice.
CS - He doesn't. This is his team now. Robert Saleh put the onus on his shoulders saying Zach Wilson is our QB. This is our leader. For better, worse or indifferent, this is the guy that's going to lead us. Maybe they do a trade, maybe they don't. But right now, this is all Zach Wilson. You know what? Put all the imperfections he had aside for his first couple years.
JM - There's a lot of them.
CS - Oh, yes, there is. But right now it's all about starting with a clean slate. And let's see what the kid's got. He's either going to make it or break it. This is it.

JM - They obviously have to go out and get somebody behind him. Heaven forbid that he gets hurt himself, whether that's to trade somebody, try and get a backup from another team, or maybe I mean, there's all kinds of names being thrown out there, guys who have retired in recent years. (Tom) Brady, please don't do that. He's 46 years old. I mean, come on. (Ben) Roethlisberger among the names that are out there.
CS - Joe Flacco, Jersey guy. He wants to come back.
JM - I can't see them doing that. But what I do think in the back of my mind is if this doesn't work out for Wilson, he's gone after this year, and the Jets are going back to square one again.
CS - I believe if Zach Wilson doesn't work this year, they will be drafting a QB in the NFL draft next year. Who knows? Rogers says he's coming back after this, but at 40 years old, they're going to have to get a game plan for a younger QB to sit behind them and learn.

JM - It's the Jets and Cowboys this weekend. That's a rough matchup for Gang Green. And that's this morning's Two-Minute Drill here at 105.5 WDHA. Thanks, Chris.
CS - Thanks, Jim. Have a good one.

It's been a few days since Aaron Rodgers' season-ending injury occurred, but it's still all anyone is talking about in the NFL. I feel really bad for both Rodgers and the Jets. Rodgers may not be the NFL's most well-liked quarterback, but there's also some natural hate that comes with being on top, so Rodgers has had to deal with that his whole career. I don't blame him for having a chip on his shoulder, if he does. Also, the Jets thought they finally had their perfect fit for a quarterback in Rodgers. There was so much excitement around him coming to the Jets. Then, within the first five minutes of Rodgers' first game with the Jets, he got injured. So, his season is over. You can't make this stuff up, kids. So, who could replace Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets?

A lot of different names are being brought up in regards to the Jets' new quarterback. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini and CBS Sports' Josina Anderson, the team is not interested in bringing on two of the rumored players to join the Jets: Tom Brady and Colin Kaepernick. Moreover, Jordan Schultz has also stated that Kaepernick's agent actually reached out to the Jets. But, they're saying it's a no for Brady and Kaepernick. Even so, I'm including Brady on this list, because there is still a lot of speculation around him surprising people and possibly stepping in for Rodgers.

I hope that whoever the Jets brings on does well for the team, because they deserve to have a good run. I also hope Rodgers heals up completely. It would be a shame for that play on Monday to be his final play of his career. Read on for five quarterbacks who could replace Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets. Reach out to me with your thoughts here.

Zach Wilson was the Jets’ No. 2 pick in 2021. He filled in for Rodgers in Monday’s game and was impressive. He threw a touchdown and an interception in the team’s stu22-16 overtime win. Maybe the Jets should just stick with him?

Teddy Bridgewater spent a preseason with the Jets in 2018, but he was traded to the Saints. He's currently Jared Goff’s backup with the Detroit Lions, but Bridgewater will be a free agent after this season. Also, the Lions have rookie Hendon Hooker recovering from a knee injury, so if Hooker is healthy, Bridgewater could become available.

The Jets allegedly inquired about Matthew Stafford before getting Aaron Rodgers over the offseason. So, they obviously like what he offers. In the end, L.A. didn't trade Stafford, but things are different now. Stafford is only earning a $1.5 million salary in 2023, but he also has big bonuses coming the next four years. The Rams could trade Stafford, but just like last season, it's all about dollars and cents and if it financially makes any sense.

As a Michigan State University graduate, I'm a big Kirk Cousins fan. He's a free agent in 2024, and the Vikings didn't extend him before the season. What are they thinking? Anyway, the Vikings had a great season in 2022. Cousins is also positive and has said good things about Rodgers. If the Jets need someone by mid-season, maybe it's a crazy thought, but some are speculating that Cousins could land with the Jets.

While fans are still speculating that Tom Brady could step in for Aaron Rodgers, that rumor seems to be over. The New York Jets won's be calling on Brady, according to The Athletic.