Why did Justin Fields choose to sign with the New York Jets in free agency?
According to NFL insider Albert Breer of SI, Fields chose the Jets because he felt good about his opportunity to be the “clear-cut starter.”
“I’ve heard that Justin Fields’s camp did a lot of homework and really prioritized having a spot where he could be the clear-cut starter,” wrote Breer. “I don’t know if his new team gave him that assurance, but he obviously felt good about the opportunity he’d have there.”
The Jets inked Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.
The 2021 first-round pick spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before getting benched, Fields started Pittsburgh’s first six games of the season. The 26-year-old led the Steelers to a 4-2 record throughout his six starts, completing 106 of his 160 pass attempts (66.3%) for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Fields also had 55 rush attempts for 231 yards and five touchdowns.
After getting benched, Fields only played 12 offensive snaps for the remainder of the season. He threw one incompletion and rushed seven times for 58 yards.
General manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn are clearly gambling on the former Ohio State Buckeye’s upside and athleticism as Fields looks to solidify himself as a top quarterback in the league.
While Fields may be the favorite to land the starting job, ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini told me on “NY Flight Jets Talk” that he doesn’t believe Fields will be handed the role without competition.
“No, I do not believe they are going to hand Justin Fields the starting job,” said Cimini “Look, Fields is the presumptive starter. However, it would not be the Aaron Glenn way to simply hand a guy a starting job, especially a guy who was a backup last year, so he will have to come and prove he is the guy with Tyrod Taylor.”
