Justin Fields headed to the Jets on a two-year deal, according to source

The Jets have their quarterback of the present.

Justin Fields is leaving the Steelers and will sign with the Jets, a league source said. Fields agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed, to lead the Jets’ offense, the source confirmed Monday.

This is a major move for new general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn on the first day that teams could negotiate with free agents. The Jets were rumored to be interested in Fields shortly after Mougey and Glenn were hired.

The Jets also addressed a need at starting cornerback. With D.J. Reed headed to Detroit on a three-year deal, the Jets agreed to terms on a three-year, $36 million contract ($23 million guaranteed) with former Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens, a source confirmed.

Deals can’t be signed or announced until Wednesday, when the new NFL year begins.

Fields, who turned 26 last week, is an intriguing player. Drafted No. 11 overall by Chicago in 2021, he is an athletic dual-threat quarterback who could continue to grow and develop.

He joins a quarterback room that currently features veteran Tyrod Taylor and unproven Jordan Travis, who didn’t practice at all during his rookie season because of a foot injury. The Jets also are expected to select a quarterback in next month’s NFL Draft.

Mougey and Glenn have spoken highly of Taylor, but the expectation is that it will be Fields’ show in 2025.

They will want to see if Fields is someone whom they can win with and build around or if they need to go in a different direction. He’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward pickup.

The franchise has been looking for an answer at quarterback for a long time. The Jets have started 15 different quarterbacks since they last made the playoffs 14 years ago. Their 2024 starter, Aaron Rodgers, will be released Wednesday. Rodgers could sign with the Steelers or Giants.

Fields will reunite with Jets receiver Garrett Wilson; they were teammates for two seasons at Ohio State. Getting Fields should increase the likelihood of Wilson signing an extension with the Jets.

There were concerns last year about whether Wilson wanted to remain a Jet after dealing with another tumultuous season. The Jets wants to keep Wilson for the long term.

Fields and Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert of Lindenhurst also played together for Ohio State.

The Jets could have drafted Fields in 2021 when they had the No. 2 pick, but they chose Zach Wilson. That was the former regime. The new one got their man in Fields.

He spent three seasons with Chicago before being traded to the Steelers last year. Fields is 14-30 as a starter. In 50 NFL games, he has completed 61.1% of his passes for 7,780 yards, 45 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He also has rushed for 2,509 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Fields is one of three quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, joining Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick. Fields ran for 1,143 yards and eight scores in 2022 with Chicago.

After inconsistent play in an unstable environment in Chicago, Fields showed improvement with the Steelers. He began the year as Pittsburgh’s starter and ended it backing up Russell Wilson.

The Steelers were 4-2 when Fields started. He threw for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for five scores.

Pittsburgh reportedly wanted Fields back, but when he remained unsigned when the free-agency negotiation window opened on Monday, many expected that he would be on the move.

Stephens, a third-round pick in 2021, has played safety and cornerback for Baltimore. He was the Ravens’ full-time starting cornerback the past two seasons and recorded 144 tackles, 21 passes defended and two interceptions.

The Jets also placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on safety Tony Adams. They can match any offers received by Adams, a restricted free agent.

The Jets still have a number of positions to fill this offseason, including wide receiver, defensive tackle, linebacker, right tackle and tight end.

The Jets struck a deal Sunday to keep one of their own, reaching an agreement with linebacker Jamien Sherwood on a three-year, $45 million contract, with $30 million guaranteed.

Several Jets free agents reached agreements with other teams on Monday. Right tackle Morgan Moses is signing with the Patriots, edge rusher Haason Reddick is joining Tampa Bay and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is signing with Washington.

LI’s Cisco agrees

The Jets also reached a deal with former Jaguars safety Andre Cisco on a one-year contract worth up to $10 million, a league source confirmed.

Cisco is from Valley Stream and went to St. Anthony’s for two years before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida.

Cisco spent four seasons with Jacksonville and was a starting safety the past three seasons. During that time, he had 203 tackles, 22 passes defended and eight interceptions.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.