For the third straight offseason, the New York Jets head into training camp with an unquestioned QB1.
This version, Justin Fields, is 15 years younger than his predecessor, Aaron Rodgers.
Ahead of free agency, the Jets’ new brass identified Fields as their No. 1 target. They were able to follow through on that plan by signing the former Ohio State product to a two-year $40 million contract.
Shortly thereafter, general manager Darren Mougey officially crowned Fields as the QB1 during the Annual League Meetings.
Fields, 26, provides the Jets with an unfinished canvas at quarterback. There is a chance, perhaps small but still tangible, that Fields can finally become a long-term franchise QB. That wasn’t possible with Rodgers, who recently revealed to Pat McAfee that the 2025 campaign is likely his last in the NFL.
There Is No Competition Atop the Jets QB Depth Chart
For better or for worse, the Jets are riding the Fields train in 2025. If, for whatever reason, he is unable to suit up due to injury, the team will turn to veteran backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Taylor, 35, is in the last year of his $12 million contract. He is the locked-in QB2 ahead of training camp.
The former Virginia Tech product is unlikely to wow you with his stats or on-field ability, but he is a hold-the-fort kind of guy. That is exactly the type of player you hope can be your reliable QB2 in the league.
Taylor has proven capable throughout his career of putting his team in a position to win games. He has a 28-28-1 record as a starting quarterback. Across his 14-year career, Taylor has posted 12,254 passing yards, completed 61.9% of his passes, and has a 68 touchdown to 29 interception ratio.
Another thing you like to have in the QB room is similar skill sets from your first and second quarterbacks on the depth chart. Fields and Taylor are both mobile QBs who can get it done with their legs. That makes the process easier if Taylor has to step in for Fields at any point. When you get quarterbacks who aren’t similar, there is a larger pressure on the offensive coordinator to completely change the offense to match the skillset of his starting quarterback.
The Real Competition, if There Even Is One, Is at QB3 for Jets
Who will be the Jets’ QB3? Will there even be a QB3 on the 53-man roster?
A lot of uncertainty exists beyond Fields and Taylor.
The only other two quarterbacks on the Jets’ 91-man roster are Adrian Martinez and undrafted free agent Brady Cook.
Cook, 23, and Martinez, 25, are both youngsters who could be interesting developmental projects for this new coaching staff to toy with.
“The NFL’s emergency third quarterback rule has reverted to its 2023 terms, the league confirmed Monday, after the NFL Players Association declined to approve recent changes that had relaxed qualifying restrictions,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert explained.
“As they could last season, teams can exempt their third quarterback from counting against game-day roster restrictions only if he is part of that week’s 53-man roster. Owners had approved a change in March that would allow teams to elevate quarterbacks from the practice squad for that purpose. The rule, however, could be viewed as a way to stash players on practice squads rather than pay them 53-man roster rates,” Seifert added.
This offseason, Jordan Travis, whom the Jets selected with the No. 171 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, retired due to complications from his knee rehab.
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