NY Jets just revealed their new offensive blueprint with Justin Fields

Since Aaron Glenn hired Detroit Lions colleague Tanner Engstrand as his offensive coordinator, pundits have been trying to project the style of offense and the type of quarterback the New York Jets will handpick to lead their franchise in 2025 and beyond.

Would Engstrand, Detroit's pass-game coordinator, copy and paste the Lions' offensive scheme headed by Ben Johnson, or would he lean more toward the traditional West Coast offense he learned under Jim Harbaugh? In turn, the ultimate question was: What type of quarterback prototype would the new Jets OC look for?

On the unofficial first day of NFL free agency, the Jets aggressively acquired Justin Fields, providing a singular answer to all questions. Actions always speak louder, and the Jets displayed that by giving Fields 30 million guaranteed on a two-year deal.

The strong commitment wasn't a shot in the dark but a necessary move for the Jets' new offensive blueprint and identity.

New Jets quarterback Justin Fields is not Jared Goff

The Detroit Lions' offensive design has catered to the skillset of Jared Goff, a pocket passer playing primarily under center, utilizing play-action to target open areas of the field created by spacing.

Although Fields can and has shown the ability to do some of those things, he and Goff have completely different player profiles.

If the Jets' desire offensively were to run the same scheme as Detroit's or have a QB like Goff, they wouldn't have targeted Fields as their primary option to guide that offense.

It's pretty telling that one of the Jets' top fallback options, had they not signed Fields, was Marcus Mariota — a similar-styled signal-caller. Instead of pocket passers like Jameis Winston or a Kirk Cousins type.

Outside of Lamar Jackson and perhaps Jayden Daniels, Mariota's teammate in Washington, there's not a more effective mobile quarterback in the NFL than Fields. In 2022, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season.

Only two quarterbacks in NFL history have matched that feat: Michael Vick and Jackson. Fields has averaged 50 yards rushing per game during his four-year NFL career. Only Jackson has a higher average than him at 59.9.

Therefore, it's easy to surmise that the Jets are not deploying Fields as the driver of their vehicle to keep him driving at the speed limit.

Under Engstrand, with Fields at the wheel, expect more shotgun plays, run-pass options, and plays designed to get the QB on the move for runs and throws outside the pocket. These concepts were rarely utilized when Engstrand was in Detroit with Goff. He's got a different race car now.

As a result, Engstrand, with an assist from his Lions cohort Steve Heiden coaching the offensive line and New York's QB coach, Charles London, a former running back, will ensure that the Jets' offense is heavily predicated on running the football, even more so than in Detroit.

The signing of Fields will shape not only the entire offensive direction but also the types of players acquired to enhance the scheme further. Think of blocking receivers, tight ends, and fullbacks, and start thinking about the next quarterback.

Justin Fields signing is a precursor to who the Jets will target at QB in the NFL Draft

The Jets' acquisition of Fields, coupled with Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, and Adrian Martinez, gives the team a distinct room of quarterbacks with similar styles.

Even in his prime, the veteran Taylor would never be mistaken for having Fields' skill set, but one of his better traits has always been his ability to move in the pocket and throw on the run. Travis and Martinez, who are not guaranteed to stick with the Jets' new staff, are closer in player prototype to Fields.

Despite the acquisition of Fields and current symmetry in the QB room, there's no doubt that drafting a quarterback is still very much in play for the Jets in 2025 and beyond.

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The one player who is a near perfect mirror image of Fields from a mobility standpoint is Alabama's Jalen Milroe. The enigmatic but uber-talented Milroe will be in the Jets' line of sight as a potential addition in the draft, especially now that New York has Fields in the fold.

Milroe, who is as raw as raw gets as a passer, would be best served to sit for a year or two to hone his skills. With the Jets, it would be an ideal landing spot to do just that, learning behind Fields and Taylor.

There's been a ton of madness to the New York Jets and its quarterback position over the years, but for the first time in a long time, there appears to be a method to it all.

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