The New York Jets made headlines this offseason by committing $40 million to former first-round quarterback Justin Fields after cutting ties with four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. However, when taking a deeper look at the contract structure, it feels more like a prove-it year for the former Pittsburgh Steelers starter.
If Fields doesn’t live up to the deal, and the Jets find themselves near the top of the draft board again, one analyst believes the future might not involve their new starting quarterback.
New York Jets Predicted To Move On From Justin Fields and Select QB of the Future in 2026 NFL Draft
While a contract averaging $20 million per year seems exorbitant for a player that boasts a 14-30 career record, Fields earned it after a career-best season with the Steelers in 2024, posting a 4-2 record. However, only $10 million of his 2026 salary is guaranteed, leaving it up to him to decide his fate for 2026 and beyond.
But if PFSN’s Brentley Weissman is proven correct, Fields will falter early in his Jets tenure, and New York will find itself in a familiar spot, searching for what would be their ninth starting QB since 2023. This time, they may land the QB of the future, though, selecting Clemson’s Cade Klubnik No. 2 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Justin Fields has a great chance to succeed in New York, and the Jets are doing everything in their power to make that happen. With that said, it is unlikely that Fields takes that next step as a starter,” Weissman wrote. “And if the Jets are picking this high in the draft, then it likely means Fields failed to establish himself.
“Cade Klubnik is a player whose instincts, velocity, and overall athleticism all stand out. If he continues to take steps forward like he did last season, he will undoubtedly be a top-five pick.”
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The Jets hope it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, Klubnik has every chance to become a franchise quarterback in New York. Through three collegiate seasons, he has already put up some gaudy numbers. But the big leap came in 2024, and he became the playmaker the college football world had been waiting to see.
I keep coming back to Cade Klubnik’s film. Just so smooth as an operator. The Bo Nix comp stays in my mind, but I think Klubnik is more polished than Nix was at this stage.
One of the best in the 2026 class at stacking actions: Read, reposition, release, etc. pic.twitter.com/Dw0AuUp0sr
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) June 10, 2025
In 14 games, Klubnik converted on 308-of-486 attempts (63.4%) for 3,639 yards, 36 TDs, and just six INTs, adding 463 yards and seven TDs on the ground and earning the Tigers an ACC Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance.
The 21-year-old is evolving into what many thought he could be, and he also perfectly fits an archetype of a QB gaining headway in the modern NFL.
It remains to be seen whether New York will become his landing spot, but if the 2025 season goes sideways, the front office will have an added incentive to move on from Fields.