Jets' Justin Fields will be starting quarterback, GM Darren Mougey says
Justin Fields (2) of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass against the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter during a preseason game at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. Credit: TNS/Joe Sargent
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Darren Mougey put to rest any questions about who the Jets’ starting quarterback will be this season.
The Jets’ general manager named Justin Fields the starter and Tyrod Taylor the backup.
“We believe in Justin,” Mougey said Sunday at the annual league meetings. “We believe we can win with Justin. So we’re excited about Justin.”
Getting Fields was a priority for the Jets’ new regime of Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn. They reached a deal with Fields on a two-year, $40 million contract on the first day that teams could negotiate with free agents.
“He is the starter, but Tyrod’s going to be right on his heels,” Mougey said. “Tyrod’s a pro’s pro. He’s going to be a great asset for Justin in the quarterback room.”
Fields, 26, was drafted 11th overall by the Bears in 2021. He’s a true dual-threat quarterback, but he’s been mostly inconsistent. The Jets are Fields’ third team in three years.
The Jets liked the strides Fields made last year with the Steelers. He started the first six games and went 4-2 with five touchdown passes and five rushing touchdowns before Pittsburgh handed the offense over to Russell Wilson.
Mougey believes there is some untapped potential in Fields that the Jets will try to bring out.
“Justin’s a young, talented quarterback with a unique athletic skill set that adds another dimension to the game that’s hard to defend,” Mougey said. “There was that, and then diving into the person, knowing him, his leadership, he was just a good fit.”
Mougey added: “He probably had some of his best quarterback play of his career [last year], and we’re going to do everything we can to support him when he gets here.” New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey (l.) stands with head coach Aaron Glenn at an introductory press conference at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center , Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Florham Park. Credit: Corey Sipkin
This was the first time Mougey spoke publicly about the Jets’ offseason moves. The biggest one was getting Fields in the fold to replace Aaron Rodgers.
Mougey addressed a number of topics, including the future of receiver Allen Lazard, who could remain a Jet. The speculation has been that Lazard had played his last game as a Jet, especially with Rodgers’ departure. Mougey revealed that they’re “working through” restructuring Lazard’s contract. His cap number is $13.2 million for 2025.
“We hope to have Allen on the team,” Mougey said. “That’s the hope, but we’ll work through that. That’s fluid.”
Mougey also discussed the most important receiver on the Jets’ roster, Garrett Wilson, and whether they’re having conversations about an extension. Mougey didn’t sound as if he’s in any rush to do that.
Wilson and Sauce Gardner are the two high-profile Jets who are eligible for extensions this offseason. Mougey said the plan is to work on next month’s draft and then possibly work on extending some players.
“There’s been a lot of talk about that,” Mougey said. “We have several players, whether it’s early extensions or just players we can extend in the last year [of their contracts], and those are good problems to have . . . Right now my focus is on the draft. Once we get through the draft, we’ll talk about potential extensions for whoever that might be.”
It will become a priority at some point.
“We’re trying to keep good players on the Jets,” Glenn said. “That’s the way to win games.”
The Jets have been under the radar this offseason. They’ve moved on or lost multiple big-name players — Rodgers, Davante Adams and C.J. Mosley among them — and didn’t make any real headline-grabbing moves. Fields received the most attention.
Mougey feels good about what the Jets have done in building the roster. They added mostly young players who fit “schematically” or had “the athletic profile” that the team wanted.
The Jets are not done. They have eight draft picks, including the No. 7 overall selection. They still have holes to fill at right tackle and tight end, although Mougey believes that Lindenhurst’s Jeremy Ruckert “could take the next step.”
“I feel like the roster is in a good position right now,” Mougey said. “I think we’ll continue to add good players, good depth and continue to improve the roster.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
