The Jets moved on from Aaron Rodgers after two seasons. As a result, addressing the quarterback position became one of the main priorities for new general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn.

On Monday, the Jets founds their next QB, agreeing to a two-year deal with former Chicago first-round pick Justin Fields.

The 26-year-old began the 2024 season as the starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was relegated to a reserve role once veteran Russell Wilson got healthy. After three up-and-down years with the Bears, has Fields shown enough promise with the Steelers to be a quality starter for the Jets?

Let's break down the pros and cons...

Pros

A viable stop-gap

Fields ticks a lot of boxes. He was affordable at $30 million guaranteed, was willing to accept a short-term deal, and has plenty of experience -- with 44 games started over the past four seasons.

Upside potential

Fields is still young enough that if he does realize his full potential with the Jets, then he could be an option to be their long-term solution.

When he was the fourth quarterback selected in the 2021 NFL Draft – at No. 11 overall, nine spots behind Zach Wilson – the Bears knew that they were getting a quarterback with a winning pedigree and outstanding athleticism. While he hasn’t been consistent enough at the NFL level to live up to being picked so high, he at least injects some excitement into a Jets offense that has been accused of being boring to watch at times over the past few years.

Scheme fit

Fields’ dual-threat abilities give the new offensive staff a chance to create a diverse offensive system with him at the helm.

The success of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts last season showcases how important it is to have a quarterback who can make plays with his legs. If the Jets put playmakers around Fields and create a system that plays to his strengths in the passing game, it could unlock some of that unrealized potential.

He has a similar skill set to Tyrod Taylor, who would therefore be a good mentor for him. There are also some draft prospects who bring the same kind of athleticism to the table, so adding one of those as well would create a cohesive quarterback room with interchangeable parts and scheme familiarity.

In addition, Fields is now reunited with his college teammate, wide receiver Garrett Wilson. The pair has immediate chemistry, and making this move underlines the new regime’s commitment to building the offense around Wilson, which should help ease any lingering frustrations from last year.

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