Jets will (literally) be paying the price for their quarterback failures in 2026

The Justin Fields era in New York is effectively over. Monday’s benching made it official, as the Jets are now moving forward with Tyrod Taylor, and barring an unforeseen miracle (or typical Jets shenanigans), Fields’ next snaps will come for a different franchise.

That reality brings the conversation to a far more painful place, as we can now assess the financial fallout of the signing the Jets made eight months ago. The Jets' decision to sign Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million in guarantees was a worthwhile, albeit expensive, gamble.

The Jets needed a bridge quarterback with upside and wanted to give the former first-round pick every chance to resurrect his career behind a rebuilt offensive line, a legitimate running game, and an offensive coordinator who could actually scheme receivers open. It was a logical move.

Unfortunately, it just didn’t work. Fields is having the worst year of his career. He's had four starts with under 60 passing yards and a total collapse in confidence.

Now that he’s been benched, his release this offseason is no longer speculation. It’s the only viable path forward. And the price tag for moving on is pretty hefty.

How much will it cost the Jets to release Justin Fields?

The cap implications are significant, no matter how the Jets slice it. Releasing Fields before June 1 saddles the team with $22 million in dead money against the 2026 cap.

A post–June 1 designation would soften the blow by splitting it — $13 million in 2026 and $9 million in 2027 — but it simply delays the inevitable pain. Trading him is likely unrealistic. No matter what, the Jets will be writing a large check for a quarterback who’s no longer here.

And he’s not the only one. Aaron Rodgers already accounts for $35 million in dead cap in 2026 due to his post–June 1 release last offseason. The Jets avoided an absurd $63 million figure by cutting him when they did instead of running it back another year, but the bill still comes due.

Add Fields’ number on top of Rodgers’, and the Jets could have a staggering $57 million on their 2026 cap tied solely to quarterbacks they don’t employ. This is the financial cost of years of quarterback failure, ranging from Zach Wilson to Rodgers to Fields.

The harsh silver lining is that once the Jets absorb this hit, the books finally clear. The mistakes stop counting against them. And with a likely rookie quarterback coming in 2026 — Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Dante Moore, or whoever this front office chooses — they absolutely cannot afford to get the next one wrong.

For now, however, they'll be paying the price of their past quarterback mistakes. Justin Fields is just the latest.