NY Jets are giving Justin Fields everything Aaron Rodgers ever wanted

The Jets are building around Fields.
Former NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Former NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers | Cooper Neill/GettyImages

The New York Jets clearly entered the 2025 NFL Draft with one purpose in mind: building a real foundation around their new quarterback, Justin Fields.

After selecting Missouri right tackle Armand Membou with the No. 7 overall pick, the Jets followed it up by landing LSU tight end Mason Taylor at No. 42. Two premium picks, two premium offensive building blocks, and a message sent about the new direction in Florham Park.

It's not that the Jets failed to support Aaron Rodgers during his short time with the franchise. They invested heavily in the offensive line last offseason and tried to surround him with weapons.

But what the Jets are doing now feels different. It feels deliberate, focused, and committed to making sure their quarterback has everything he needs to succeed. That's a strategy Rodgers himself might view with a little envy.

Aaron Rodgers might be jealous of NY Jets' draft strategy so far

Through two rounds, the Jets have made life easier for Fields in a way few young quarterbacks ever experience. A fortified offensive line. A reliable new weapon at tight end. Stability, investment, and a clear plan.

For the first time in a long time, the Jets are not just talking about building around a quarterback. They are doing it, and doing it right.

The Jets aren't under any illusions about Fields. They know he is a high-upside swing in a weak quarterback market, not a guaranteed long-term solution. But that is exactly why their approach this offseason and in this draft has been so smart.

Whether Fields takes the next step or the Jets eventually turn to a new quarterback down the line, they are making sure the infrastructure is in place. They want a strong offensive line, reliable pass catchers, and a more stable environment than any recent Jets quarterback has been handed.

The selections of Membou and Taylor are major steps toward that goal. Membou gives the Jets a long-term answer at right tackle to pair with Olu Fashanu on the left side, forming the kind of young, talented tackle duo teams dream of building around.

Taylor provides a steady, dependable presence at tight end — something the Jets have lacked for years — and gives their quarterback a true security blanket over the middle. Together, these picks represent the kind of foundational investments that make life easier for any quarterback stepping into the role.

The Jets bent over backward to accommodate Aaron Rodgers, trading for Davante Adams, signing familiar faces like Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, and even hiring Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator despite his disastrous track record.

But those moves were different.

They were about trying to patch together a foundation after the quarterback was already in place — a shaky structure built more on nepotism than long-term planning.

This time, the Jets are doing it the right way. They are building the foundation first and trusting that the quarterback, whether it is Justin Fields or someone else, will have the support needed to succeed.

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