The New York Jets signed quarterback Justin Fields early in NFL free agency, bringing in the 2021 first-round pick to, at the very least, compete for the starting job in 2025. However, there remain questions regarding whether or not the Jets will still use their first-round pick on a quarterback.
Fields signed a two-year deal worth $40 million total for a $20 million average annual value. However, with just $30 million guaranteed, New York could designate Fields as a post-June 1 release in 2026 to create $10 million in cap space. So, while the deal is fairly lucrative, the team could get out of it without a large dead cap hit.
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That opens the door for New York to use its first-round pick on a quarterback. Holding the seventh overall selection, there’s a possibility that Shedeur Sanders slides to New York’s selection. While there is lingering debate over Sanders as a viable first-round talent, his floor in the 2025 NFL Draft is believed to be in New York’s range, though it could be even higher.
Drafting Sanders with the seventh overall pick would provide New York with a potential franchise quarterback and someone who the organization could sell as the savior of the team. However, that requires him slipping to No. 7 overall and there’s not a consensus that New York would even take him if he’s available.
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Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated addressed the possibility on Monday, explaining why he doesn’t think the Jets will use their first-round pick on a quarterback.
“I’d be a little surprised if the Jets took a quarterback in the first round. I’ve heard that Justin Fields’s camp did a lot of homework and really prioritized having a spot where he could be the clear-cut starter. I don’t know if his new team gave him that assurance, but he obviously felt good about the opportunity he’d have there.”
Albert Breer on if the New York Jets will spend a first-round pick on a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft
It’s also worth noting that the new Jets’ regime is high on veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who was said to be in the mix to be the starter in 2025 if Fields didn’t re-sign. While keeping three quarterbacks on the roster isn’t unusual, it would limit New York’s roster flexibility.
For now, it seems like the Jets’ first-round pick will either be used to provide Fields with an offensive weapon or to support Aaron Glenn’s defense with an impact player. As for a potential rookie quarterback, New York seems more inclined to wait until Day 2 to find a potential young passer to develop who might not see the field as a rookie next season.
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