The Kansas City Chiefs are pretty safe with their current starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, but behind him are many questions. The Chiefs’ current backup quarterback situation is Ian Booke and Chris Oladokun, neither of whom has much experience at the NFL level.
In other words, this offseason, the Chiefs should focus on finding a solid backup for Mahomes in case of injury, and they may have just found one in a place nobody saw coming.
Kansas City Chiefs May Look to Zach Wilson
Zach Wilson is leaving the New York Jets. Whether that means getting traded or cut remains to be seen, but with Wilson already saying he is leaving and listing his home online for sale, it’s nearly impossible to see a scenario in which the former BYU star is back in the Big Apple next season.
The Kansas City Chiefs make a ton of sense, and according to Pro Football Network, it is a scenario that could very well happen. The article said the following:
“The Jets probably won’t receive much in return if and when Wilson is traded. Justin Fields only netted the Chicago Bears a sixth-round pick. We’ll send Wilson to K.C. for a conditional 2025 seventh that can increase to a sixth-rounder if Wilson plays 35% of the Chiefs’ snaps this season.
Wilson’s contract remains a problem. He’s owed a fully guaranteed $5.453 million in 2024, a total Kansas City — nor any other team in the league — will feel comfortable paying. New York may need to eat a portion — half? — of Wilson’s salary by converting it to a signing bonus before trading him.”
It’s also worth noting that Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid is a BYU alumnus. Of course, this would not be the main reason the Chiefs sign Wilson, but Reid has been known to sign BYU players, including Daniel Sorenson, Matt Bushman, and Chad Lewis. Maybe the connection would put Wilson slightly ahead of another player who is also looking for a new team.
Options for Wilson Are Running Out
Most teams have either already found their backup and starter for next year or are waiting until next month to draft a quarterback. The most likely suitors, including the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Atlanta Falcons, have already filled all the voids they had, while teams like the Bears, Patriots, and Commanders are vocally announcing they will be drafting a quarterback.
Wilson may be interested in a backup role. The Denver Broncos, LA Rams, and Detroit Lions are some of the other few teams who could potentially find room for him. However, with more than $4 million owed in salary this upcoming season, it will likely take the Jets paying for some of that for a team to be willing to take him.
Conclusion
Zach Wilson is a very interesting player. His statistics alone suggest no way any team will pick him up this offseason. However, his game film and flashy moments make him very interesting. In his game against the Kansas City Chiefs last year, Wilson actually outplayed Mahomes. Of course, that won’t ever be enough to get the Chiefs to consider starting Wilson over Mahomes, but maybe his performance left enough of an impact to make them want to bring him in to back up Mahomes.
Get More NFL and College Football Content