While there has been quite a bit of talk about the roster the New York Jets are putting together in the first year of the Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey era, one inarguable fact is that no player will have more of a direct impact on wins and losses than quarterback Justin Fields.
The former first-round pick has always flashed with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, as he was good enough to run for 1,100 yards as a second-year quarterback and play so well last season that many fans wanted him to stay as a starter over Russell Wilson. Consistency, however, has eluded him.
While the Jets could draft a replacement in 2026 if Fields ends up faltering, there are multiple analysts out in the media landscape who believe that the Jets won't need to pursue that line of inquiry. In their eyes, Fields could be in line for a better year than his one-season stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL.com's Kevin Patra believes that Fields will exceed his production with the Steelers, citing the fact that the Jets will give him a much longer leash as a starting quarterback and the likelihood that New York would use Fields' legs as a weapon more than Pittsburgh.
NFL.com believes Jets QB Justin Fields will improve in 2025
There are some concerns with the whole Fields arrangement, as Patra notes that Fields will be working with a first-time offensive coordinator in Tanner Engstrand, who has never called plays in the NFL. Engstrand is also coming off a stint alongside Jared Goff, who is as direct a stylistic contrast to Fields as possible.
Fields' arm talent and athletic ability have never been what has prevented him from succeeding in the pros. His accuracy comes and goes, and his inability to quickly process leads to him taking plenty of bad sacks. Fixing that is critical to his overall success in green.
The Jets will assuredly try to challenge the Baltimore Ravens for their title of top rushing attack in the league, as New York's Breece Hall-led three-headed monster of young runners featuring Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis in addition to Fields could be enough to give the offense an identity and a degree of effectiveness.