Justin Fields’ presence may not hinder the possibility of the New York Jets selecting a quarterback with the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft.
On “The Todd McShay Show,” The Ringer’s Todd McShay revealed the Jets organization has “some love” for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart despite signing Fields to a two-year contract.
“[The Jets are] thrilled to have Justin Fields; he’s going to be the starter,” said McShay. “Let’s move forward with him, but it’s not a contract that absolutely locks them in. By bringing in Fields, they’ve certainly alleviated the necessity to take a quarterback… Let’s finish our process. There’s some love in that building for Jaxson Dart.”
Dart, 21, is one of the most polarizing prospects in this year’s draft. Many analysts view Dart as worthy of a top-10 pick, while others don’t even have a first-round grade on the Ole Miss product. Dart currently ranks as the No. 33 overall prospect on the consensus big board at NFL Mock Draft Database.
The Utah native was a four-star recruit hailing from Corner Canyon High School (the same high school Zach Wilson attended). He initially committed to USC, appearing in only six games as a freshman while completing 61.9% of his passes for 1,353 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Following his freshman campaign, Dart transferred to Ole Miss, where he spent his final three collegiate seasons as a starter. Dart’s best collegiate season was undoubtedly in 2024, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors and completed 69.3% of his passes for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
The signing of Justin Fields should not deter Darren Mougey from selecting Dart or any quarterback he believes in. Fields has yet to establish himself as a top NFL quarterback, and the Jets are betting on his potential.
There is no guarantee that Fields has a long-term future, or any future, with the Jets organization. His contract, which ranks 26th among NFL quarterbacks in guaranteed money, provides the flexibility for New York to draft a quarterback in the first round.
