NY Jets should consider Justin Fields as a QB replacement for Aaron Rodgers

The NY Jets have been searching for an answer to their quarterback question for what feels like — and largely has been — decades now. With new head coach Aaron Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey coming in, the odds of the Jets retaining Aaron Rodgers, though still entirely possible, seem dubious at best

If they don't bring back Rodgers, it begs the question, do the Jets look for their future franchise guy now, or do they stick with a solid veteran to act as a bridge until they find the right fit? Well, the answer to both of those questions may currently reside in Pittsburgh.

Justin Fields has been through a lot since beginning his NFL career in 2021. The former Bears cast-off was selected by Chicago with the 11th pick in the first round before flaming out amidst the garbage fire that was the Matt Nagy/Matt Eberflus era.

Once a superstar at Ohio State, Fields endured nothing but a series of promising stretches followed by disappointing outcomes. While he has shown sparks of a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, he has never consistently put it together for long enough periods for a franchise to hand him the starting reigns in perpetuity.

Why Justin Fields makes sense for the NY Jets

In Fields' defense, however, he has never gotten a totally fair shake. For a rookie quarterback to succeed, he must have the opportunity to develop within a stable culture. He obviously wasn't granted that in Chicago.

Then when Fields went to Pittsburgh, he actually did perform. When he lost his job to Russell Wilson, he finished with a 4-2 record and set career highs in completion percentage (65.8%), interception rate (0.6%), and success rate (42.9%).

Despite this, the Steelers opted to go with Wilson. What seemed like a strange decision actually worked out in their favor until they ran into Baltimore in the playoffs, but this left young Justin Fields in limbo. Where does his career go from here?

Well, it seems like the Steelers will attempt to bring Fields back, but that isn't without potential competition. Pro Football Focus is one outlet projecting the possibility that the Jets could make a play at Fields.

And why not? It seems to make a lot of sense. After all, there is plenty of upside. Fields has proven to have the tools — he just needs a real chance to put them all together.

With good talent around him in New York, he has every opportunity to succeed. There is also little downside. The Jets are unlikely to find their quarterback of the future anyway and will likely have to rely on a temporary fill-in.

If the "fill-in" is also someone who has an off chance of sticking around for a while and having some success, that's a pretty good deal. The draft doesn't seem stocked with elite talent at the quarterback position, so this may be the best somewhat youthful option the Jets have.

If not Fields, then who? If it is going to be a bridge guy, it could always be Tyrod Taylor, but the benefit of Fields is that, while representing a bridge option, you also have the potential to mold him into "the guy."

And lord knows the Jets seem to exist in a state of looking for "the guy." Taking a small swing can't possibly hurt.

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