The time has come. It's time to face facts. Not only is the redemption arc for Justin Fields in Gotham dead, but the former 11th overall pick can no longer serve as a bridge quarterback for the New York Jets.
He probably will continue to start the majority of the games in 2025, but as soon as the season comes to a close, it will be time to pull the plug. This is a conclusion the Jets have already come to. The deadline fire sale was the sound of the other shoe dropping.
The Jets will be drafting a quarterback early in 2026, and the way Justin Fields played on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns just solidified the fact that it's the right call.
Justin Fields' abysmal performance against the Browns validates the Jets' trade deadline sell-off
After Week 1 against Pittsburgh, it seemed like there might be something to believe in. Or at least, a reason for patience. Justin Fields was coming off the best performance of his career, giving hope that even if he proved not to be a long-term answer, he was going to be good enough to at least keep the seat warm for the Jets' next young hotshot field general.
He'd at least give them breathing room to take their time. They might not have to draft a QB high in 2026 if they weren't enamored with their options, and could hope for a stronger class in 2027. Then, as quickly as those hopes were raised, they came crashing down following his career-worst performance just a week later.
That might have been the first sign of trouble, but it certainly wasn't the last. Fields has now thrown for under 100 yards in four of his eight starts in 2025. Three of those games saw him come in under 50 yards before accounting for sacks.
With the bar already on the floor, it didn't seem like Fields could sink any lower. He did against Cleveland. While he was credited with the game-winning touchdown, a 42-yard strike to Breece Hall, it was the blocking of Joe Tippman and Josh Myers, as well as Hall's shiftiness, that broke the screen pass open.
Omitting that play from his line, Fields' final line drops from six-for-11 to 54 yards to five-for-10 for 12 yards. Once you factor in the 12 yards he lost on sacks, he produced a net of zero yards through the air.
This comes after plunging to Ryan Leaf territory with a historic -10 net yard performance against the Denver Broncos last month in London.
At this point, it's clear Fields is broken beyond repair. He looks scared to go through his progressions, still struggles with misfires in the short and intermediate areas, and runs himself into sacks. If it's giving you Zach Wilson vibes, then you're on the right track.
What's clear is that a rookie will be under center for the Jets in 2026. Whether that's Indiana's Fernando Mendoza or a different youngster remains to be seen. What is for sure is that it can't be Justin Fields, and the Jets were right to sell off and load up to ensure they can nab their next hopeful franchise signal caller in the 2026 draft.