There's no denying that Justin Fields has been a massive disappointment through his first four years in the NFL.
The former Chicago Bear and Pittsburgh Steeler has struggled to be consistent as an overall passer despite his exploits as a top running quarterback in the league. Now, after signing a two-year deal with the New York Jets, Fields is hoping to resurrect his career.
There is reason to suspect he can - just based on modern history.
Whether it has been Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, or even Baker Mayfield, the league has seen reclamation projects turn their careers around with new teams. At the time, the the Jets were the butt of that joke.
But Fields thinks he can redeem some pride back into Florham Park.
"I know I definitely have some untapped potential," Fields said via the team's official website. "I'm hoping to get there this year and I'm hoping to put it on display for everybody to see."
That's an unusual - and unusually honest - take. We hear scouts and coaches talk about "untapped potential'' ... but it's quite a refreshing self-scouting report to hear it from a player.
The positive side of Fields - who was the No. 11 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft - is that he has improved his completion percentage in every year in the league. While analytics aren't kind to his league-worst second-half completion percentage, the Jets aren't wrong to want to see what they have in the young signal-caller.
Remember, Fields is still only 26 years old and can be seen as a player to trust in his development if he's surrounded with the right personnel and in the right offensive system.
That, alone, is one of many reasons why the Jets aren't in the wrong for seeing if they can find a way to get the most out of Fields' "untapped potential."
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This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM.