Zach Wilson and the New York Jets have finally come to an agreement on his rookie contract. Wilson was the final first-round selection from the 2021 NFL Draft to ink a deal. Now, the Jets have their new quarterback signed and ready for training camp, per Ian Rapoport.
It was believed (for a brief moment) that Zach Wilson could have been a possible hold-out. Wilson's agent, Brian Ayrault, is the same agent Joey Bosa had when he first entered the league. Bosa was a holdout to begin training camp and didn't join the team until finally signing a deal before the start of the 2016 NFL Season.
There was a disagreement between Wilson's team and the Jets between the offset language. Many teams in the NFL use offset language in their contracts almost as insurance if said player is cut from the roster. The New York Jets have placed similar offset language in all of the contracts for their rookies. The front office refused to budge on the matter, which is what held up contract negotiations.
Both sides seem happy with the deal. Wilson receives the signing bonus he was hoping for and the Jets retain the offset language they wanted in the contract. Now, the Jets can focus on developing their rookie quarterback for the future.
Wilson agreed to terms with the Jets and has received a hefty payday. The second overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft signed a fully guaranteed 4-year, $35.1 million deal, per Adam Schefter. Wilson walks away with a $22.9 million signing bonus, giving him most of his money upfront.
We'll see how the remaining of the Jets training camp goes now that they have their starting quarterback practicing with the team. New York has had issues in the past as a franchise, but locking down their rookie quarterback gives the team some hope down the road.