Following veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s trial and error, the New York Jets will now move on to find their quarterback of the future.
A Jets career headlined by injuries and woeful performances now sees Rodgers looking for a new team or retirement. That said, the Jets’ draft position suggests an inability to take one of the top two QBs in this class (Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders). This likely means they will look to make a splash in free agency to acquire a new man at the helm of their offense.
Is There an Ohio State Reunion in the Works for the New York Jets?
While rumors have swirled of a potential trade for star receiver Garrett Wilson, the Ohio State product remains wearing the green and white. The likelihood of him staying could increase if the Jets go out and get his college pal, Justin Fields. PFSN’s Ben Rolfe describes why he thinks Fields is the perfect fit for New York.
“The news that the New York Jets are moving on from Aaron Rodgers has left them in limbo this offseason. They are unlikely to have a shot at either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders without trading up in the draft, and it would be an interesting reunion if they were to sign Sam Darnold. They will likely hesitate to trade for another veteran (Cousins or Stafford), and Russell Wilson is a short-term fix,” Rolfe explained.
“That is why Justin Fields stands out as an intriguing option. Fields was on pace to finish 15th in PFSN’s QB+ rankings last year but did not meet the minimum thresholds for a final grade. He remains an intriguing upside prospect for any team willing to invest in him. We have seen Fields’s potential, but he is still far from the finished product.”
“The Jets kind of have a free shot at this year. There is no obvious quarterback option for them that can make them a competitor in 2025, so they have the chance to take a shot at some upside with Fields. If it works out, they may have found a long-term solution; if it does not, they go into the next offseason with a chance at finding a QB of the future.”
PFSN’s Rolfe also mentioned other potential free agent targets, including Alaric Jackson, Dan Moore Jr., Zach Ertz, Teair Tart, Carlton Davis, Zach Baun, Justin Reid, Harrison Smith, and Tre’von Moehrig.
READ MORE: Simulate the NFL Offseason With PFSN’s Offseason Manager
Justin Fields’ 2024 campaign
It was an up-and-down year for the four-year pro Fields. He began the season as QB1 for Pittsburgh following a lengthy injury to their projected starter, Russell Wilson. Fields competed in six contests for the black and gold, scoring them a 4-2 start.
His statistics impressed throughout his six starts. He went for over 1,300 total yards (1,106 passing and 289 rushing) and tallied 10 touchdowns, with an even split of five passing and five rushing.
While the recent sample size is small, Fields appears to be a coveted free agent for teams looking to add a young but ready quarterback.