It’s no secret that the New York Jets need a quarterback. In fact, they’ve needed one for a very long time. So, when the team ended the Aaron Rodgers experiment after just two seasons, the franchise became a destination for wayward starting quarterbacks… again.
Though far from a model of stability, the Jets do at least have a new regime piloted by head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey to pitch to prospective signal-callers.
On the first day of the NFL‘s legal free agency tampering period, rumors have suggested that the leadership group may be closing in on its QB of the future in New York.
New York Jets Viewed as Favorites for Justin Fields in Free Agency
Justin Fields, who started six games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 (going 4-2) before giving way to veteran Russell Wilson, has been a constant source of rumors for the Steelers and Jets in advance of free agency this year.
However, with the Steelers potentially turning their attention to another veteran field general in Aaron Rodgers, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reports that the door is open for the Jets to swoop in and name Fields their starting quarterback in 2025.
There is a feeling that Justin Fields will ultimately land with the #Jets, according to league sources, though nothing is done yet.
Still can't rule out a surprise team swooping in or the Steelers changing course — buzz is for Aaron Rodgers to Pitt — but the Jets have a good…
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) March 10, 2025
Rodgers had one of the worst seasons of his career last year with the Jets. Leading them to just five wins on the season, it was far from the Super Bowl hopes he’d promised the franchise and its fan base. He finished 22nd in PFSN’s QB+ metric with a 72.2 grade.
If he’s hoping for an improvement over his numbers last season (3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 63.0% completion rate, and a 90.5 passer rating), Rodgers could do worse than Pittsburgh, who has posted a .500 or better record in all 18 of Mike Tomlin’s seasons as the head coach.
Meanwhile, Fields finished with a 78.1 QB+ grade, finishing ahead of both Wilson and Rodgers. (However, technically, he didn’t have enough passes to qualify in the rankings.)
Fields also offers Gang Green something that Rodgers simply could not — extending plays with his legs, keeping defenses guessing. He led the league with 7.1 yards per carry in 2022, finishing with 1,143 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Even in limited action last year, he still averaged nearly 50 rushing yards per start.
The rest of the free agent class of signal-callers looks weak, and it’s exceedingly rare that talented field generals hit the trade block anywhere near their respective primes. Fields may well be the Jets’ best hope to land a quarterback with upside this offseason, especially since they own the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
New York’s offense as a whole didn’t fare well with Rodgers at the controls last year, finishing 19th with a 72.7 grade according to PFSN’s Offense+ metric. It would behoove the Jets’ front office and management to get a deal done with Fields in short order so as to begin building a stronger unit under offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.