The New York Jets found an answer at the quarterback position in Justin Fields to lead the franchise into the post-Aaron Rodgers era, but whether he is a long-term solution has yet to be determined.
Fields is on his third team in five years after the Chicago Bears moved on from the former No. 11 overall pick after three seasons as their starter. He also started six games for the Pittsburgh Steelers to begin the 2024 campaign before Russell Wilson got healthy and usurped him in that role.
Fields will presumably start for the Jets in Week 1 after they paid him $40 million to enter the fold, but New York can get off that deal relatively inexpensively after just one season. The Jets own the No. 7 selection in this year's NFL draft and have been predicted to reach at that spot for the third-ranked QB on most boards -- Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss.
"Justin Fields could join Sam Bradford (Philadelphia, 2016), Mike Glennon (Chicago, 2017), Andy Dalton (Chicago, 2021), Mitch Trubisky (Pittsburgh, 2022) and Kirk Cousins (Atlanta, 2024) as veteran quarterbacks signed to be QB1 until the team selected a passer in the first round," Chad Reuter of NFL.com wrote Friday, March 21. "In this simulation, the Jets appreciate Dart's physical traits and work ethic, hoping that he or Fields will step up in a leadership role during 2025 and end the league's longest playoff drought."
Dart has four years of collegiate experience and started for Ole Miss in each of the past three seasons. He put up career numbers last year, throwing for nearly 4,300 yards, 29 touchdowns and only six interceptions on a 69.3% completion rate.
Related: Buzz Growing That Jaxson Dart Could Replace Legendary QB on Big Market Team
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This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 8:43 PM.