Justin Fields A Match Made In Heaven for New York Jets

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High upside and a lot to prove. That is Justin Fields, making him a match made in heaven for the New York Jets. Do we all agree?

Prepare for the intense sports debate that only sibling rivalry can conjure. Seesaw Sports, where Dan Salem and Todd Salem throw down on the NFL, MLB, NBA and more. Only on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate sports.

 

Free agency kicked off on Monday in the NFL as the next domino in the league offseason schedule. Prior to that, players could only be tagged or re-sign with their previous employer. We saw a number of the top players on the market fall into one of those two buckets, but many more still remained available.

As soon as free agency opened, though, players started finding new homes. We will touch on all of the biggest signings later in the month, because we have to start with Dan’s New York Jets seemingly turning the keys over to Justin Fields. What he will be driving remains to be seen.

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The Jets signed quarterback Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal, with $30 million guaranteed. It is cheap money for a starting QB, and it isn’t a long-term commitment by any means, but it signals the team’s path for the 2025 season.

Fields is a failed starter, turned lurking backup, turned second-chance starter. He has lots of promise, even though he is already on his third franchise. He was a supremely successful and accurate passer in college. That has not translated yet to the NFL, but he became a weapon with his legs nevertheless. The potential is there. With that, how does everyone feel about the choice? Is Fields right for New York?

 

Justin Fields Is Now A New York Jet

 

 

Todd Salem:

Signing Justin Fields is partially the team leaving its options open for the draft, or to simply go another direction in seasons to come. It is also taking a chance on a player with upside, as opposed to veteran retreads who are on the back nine of their careers. However, Fields’ floor as a starting quarterback is lower than many of the other options who could have been acquired. It’s a risky maneuver.

His success will come down to the coaching, guidance, and help he receives. One would think that’s a bad sign, seeing him join a moribund franchise. And yet, this Jets roster has loads of talent remaining, and the coaching staff could be something special if the new hires hit.

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On offense, Fields is reunited with former college teammate Garrett Wilson. With Breece Hall and Braelon Allen at running back, there is already the makings of a formidable skill corps. Of course, the depth is not there, and the offensive line is really going to be the key regardless. Fields needs a strong o-line in front of him. He will hold the ball a long time, both by design and by accident, trying to make a play with his legs. The line failed these past few seasons, both in the running game and in pass protection. It needs to be an area of improvement if this team is going anywhere.

On the sideline, first-time head coach Aaron Glenn has all the makings. He has the personality, the history with the team, and success as a coordinator. He doesn’t coach the offense, though. That will fall to an unknown: new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. What can Engstrand do with a Fields-led offense? It remains to be seen, which I guess mirrors the entire future of this franchise.

 

 

Dan Salem:

Justin Fields excites me as the New York Jets quarterback. He has not yet succeeded in the NFL, but I can’t say he failed. The Chicago Bears were a complete mess when he was there. Pittsburgh took the starting job from him by default. I love it when my team grabs a player on the cheap with a ton to prove. Sometimes it works out well, see Darnold in Minnesota, and other times it fails miserably. We forget all of the failures, so there really is no downside for the New York Jets.

New York is starting over on the sidelines and in the front office, so this season is the mulligan year. They have all of the leftover players, many very good, and an opportunity to build something with them. But everyone assumes the Jets will stink and that this rebuilding year will be bad, so expectations are lower than low. It’s the ideal situation for Fields to succeed in, as well as for the Jets management who can’t lose no matter what happens.

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We had a running column throughout last season that ranked the backup quarterbacks. Fields loomed near the top all year, mainly because he had proven himself a viable starter before getting benched for a pricier and bigger name veteran. We also knew exactly who he was as a player and what to expect. Fields can make throws and often makes plays with his legs. He holds the ball too long in the pocket, but rarely loses a game for his team. He’s rarely the reason they win as well, so he’s a game manager with significant upside. Its also worth noting that our top backup QB of last season is also a member of the Jets, Tyrod Taylor.

I watched Justin Fields get better in Pittsburgh, after getting steam rolled in Chicago. Many former Jets quarterbacks dealt with exactly what Fields did, only to see a fresh start and low expectations be exactly what their career needed. If New York is changing for real, then they offer a similar reclamation opportunity. However, if they are the same old Jets, then treading water with Fields will be more interesting and fun to watch then the other available options. Count me in!

 

 

Meet our Sports Writers:

Dan Salem is Lead Editor and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X, TikTok and Instagram. His latest film ‘Alone’ is now on Amazon.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a champion of fantasy football and fantasy baseball, dominating leagues for over two decades. Comment below on his unfiltered opinions.

Justin Fields to the New York Jets – This Is The End

Justin Fields Photo Credits: nflanalysis.net and abc7ny.com; fox10phoenix.com via Getty Images

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