The New York Jets needed a quarterback, and in Justin Fields, the franchise got one for at least the 2025 season.
The two-year, $40 million deal gives Aaron Glenn a versatile, dual-threat quarterback to develop with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
Fields was servicable in Pittsburgh last season (4-2) before losing the starting role to Russell Wilson. Now, he gets a chance to run his own ship in New York.
Yes, it isn’t a swashbuckling signing, but the Jets needed a bridge quarterback and didn’t overpay to get one. What makes the deal good is that Fields, despite the criticism of his game, still has plenty of upside.
ESPN’s Seth Walder thinks that the Jets’ acquisition of Fields is a good piece of business for the franchise.
“The price is more than I thought it would be, which is why the grade isn’t higher,” Walder writes. “The most likely result is that the Jets burn $30 million for one season of Fields. But even if that scenario comes to pass, I still make this move if I’m the Jets, because it means 2025 has quarterback upside without them having to force a draft pick on a QB to get it.”
The Jets were in no man’s land when it came to the draft, holding the No. 7 pick. They were too far away to get a top prospect like Cam Ward and too high to get a lesser commodity like Jaxson Dart.
Now, they don’t have to reach or trade up to get a quarterback, and as Walder points out, they could likely move on from Fields after 2025 and then go big-game hunting next offseason, either in free agency or the draft.
Fields did show flashes with the Steelers, and the hope is that he can continue that in New York. He has a decent supporting cast of Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and a solid offensive line so there are pieces to work with.
The Fields move is a win for the Jets because if he plays well, great, and if he doesn’t they can move off after the year and continue their quarterback search.