October 21, 2025
The New York Jets benched Justin Fields on Sunday, and whereas he could or could not make it again into the beginning lineup, one factor is evident. His contract, a two-year deal, was a mistake. Fields isn’t an NFL-level quarterback, making it three straight failures by the Jets to pair their stable and typically spectacular protection with a reliable quarterback. What can they do to sort things sooner or later?
The right way to Deal with the 2025 QB State of affairs
The Jets most likely must lose as many video games as doable from right here on out. It could be fairly disappointing for the group to finish up with a few wins and play themselves out of the primary choose, particularly with the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans all in play for it as nicely.
However they’re not simply going to tank. Fields most likely nonetheless provides the Jets one of the best likelihood to win, even when he can’t throw it. He can run the ball fairly nicely, and Tyrod Taylor did nothing however throw two interceptions (to the identical participant) when he entered in opposition to the Carolina Panthers. For now, he ought to stay the starter with the expectation that Taylor will most likely get put in and that the Jets simply received’t have a reliable offense this yr. After seven video games and with no actual saviors out there elsewhere (and the Jets don’t must go all in to save lots of an 0-7 begin), they should embrace the tank as finest they will.
The Jets have been terrible, however they haven’t been noncompetitive. They’ve misplaced a bunch of one-score video games, in order that they’re certain to get some luck and keep away from going 0-17, though successful too many video games can be lower than perfect. An excellent defensive day and a matchup with a subpar protection, coupled with Fields having speeding day, ought to equal a win or two in some unspecified time in the future. Sorry, Jets followers, that’s one of the best it’s most likely going to get this yr.
Taylor isn’t a steep drop-off, so if Fields continues to be unable or unwilling to throw the ball down the sector, he can are available in. Say what you need, however Taylor tried to throw the ball deep to his receivers. When Garrett Wilson is wholesome, that can work higher. However both method, the Jets’ offensive ceiling is alarmingly low this yr. They need to look to the long run, although, and meaning swallowing a dreadful season.
What the Jets Can Do in 2026 and Past
The 2026 QB class is slightly underwhelming. It was billed as a serious class filled with franchise gamers, however the perceived high prospects have struggled. Cade Klubnik, Arch Manning, and Garrett Nussmeier all might’ve gone first general, however they received’t sniff that vary now. There are some who’ve stepped up, however the one-year surprise or lackluster profession earlier than breakout prospects are a threat. Nonetheless, the Jets don’t have any selection however to take somebody.
LaNorris Sellers may appear to be the probably selection given his bodily instruments, however Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore are additionally candidates. Not one of the three has really separated, so it’s laborious to say now which one needs to be the choose. It’s additionally laborious to say that any of them would be the mistaken selection.
Regardless, the Jets can’t mess this up. They tousled in 2021 with Zach Wilson, though principally everybody besides Trevor Lawrence, who is usually common, from that vaunted class has not had go within the NFL, so it’s not solely New York’s fault.
The answer is correct in entrance of them, although. Let no matter prospect they get sit for at the least half a yr, if not the entire yr. Typically talking, that appears to work higher with creating younger quarterbacks. The Jets foolishly signed Fields to a two-year deal, however he can function the bridge in his second yr. After that, it’s the younger QB’s group, and he may have benefited from sitting for a short time. This additionally permits the Jets to get one other high draft choose to repair their most obtrusive different problem except for QB in 2027. That could be one other weapon for stated QB, but it surely may also be safety or one thing on protection. That is removed from a foolproof plan, but it surely’s one of the best one the Jets have transferring ahead, and it’s the one one they will flip to now.
