In a surprising move, the New York Jets have traded their former quarterback Zach Wilson to the Denver Broncos, closing a disappointing chapter for both parties. Following the trade, questions have arisen about the Jets' future at the quarterback position and their ability to find a successor to their 40-year-old quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

Wilson, who was selected as the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, failed to live up to expectations during his tenure with the Jets. Despite his initial confidence in being able to overcome the franchise's troubled history with young quarterbacks, Wilson found himself unable to break free from their star-crossed reputation.

Now, with Wilson officially gone, the Jets must grapple with the challenge of finding a new signal-caller. While Rodgers remains a reliable option, his contract is only guaranteed until 2024, raising concerns about the team's future if the upcoming season doesn't go as planned.

General manager Joe Douglas, who was responsible for selecting Wilson, has expressed interest in taking a quarterback in this week's draft to mitigate the potential risk of being left without a long-term answer. The Jets' lack of a young quarterback hopeful is particularly worrisome, as they have not been in this situation since 2017 when they had stopgap starter Josh McCown and Bryce Petty, who was never considered a quarterback of the future.

Douglas has expressed a desire to create a quarterback factory, much like the Green Bay Packers in the 1990s. The Packers successfully drafted late-round quarterbacks, developed them, and traded them for additional draft capital. However, the Jets face a different challenge, as they may need one of their draft picks to become an immediate starter rather than a low-risk investment.

The Jets' disappointing experience with Wilson has taught them the importance of patience and creating a competitive environment for their young quarterbacks. Wilson was thrust into the starting role without any veteran competition, ultimately proving overwhelming for him. The team now understands the need for a veteran presence to guide and mentor their future quarterbacks.

Additionally, the coaching staff's lack of experience may have hindered Wilson's development. Head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur were both new to their roles when Wilson joined the team. The Jets had initially planned for veteran coach Greg Knapp to serve as the team's quarterback guru, but his unfortunate passing before the start of the 2021 season left a void that was partly filled by Wilson's personal coach, John Beck.

With back-to-back misses in the first round of the draft, the Jets find themselves without a clear long-term solution at quarterback and have learned valuable lessons along the way. As they look to the future, they must prioritize patience, creating a competitive environment, and providing a strong coaching foundation to ensure the success of their next young quarterback.

In the meantime, the Jets will need to carefully consider their options for the upcoming draft and potentially explore other avenues for acquiring a quarterback if Aaron Rodgers' future with the team becomes uncertain. The clock is ticking, and the Jets must act decisively to secure their future at the quarterback position.