The Justin Fields era in New York looks all but over.
Earlier this week, the Jets placed the quarterback on season-ending injured reserve, effectively closing the book on a season - and possibly a tenure - that never quite found its rhythm. Rookie undrafted free agent Brady Cook will remain the starter moving forward, as confirmed by head coach Aaron Glenn. That decision speaks volumes about where the organization stands with Fields, who was brought in less than a year ago to serve as a bridge between eras.
Let’s rewind for a second. When general manager Darren Mougey signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal last offseason, the Jets were still reeling from the abrupt and very public split with Aaron Rodgers. Fields wasn’t brought in to be the long-term answer - he was a stopgap, a talented but inconsistent quarterback with tools worth betting on in the short term.
Fields opened the season as the starter, but it didn’t take long for the cracks to show. Injuries slowed him down, and when he was on the field, the results were uneven at best. The Jets cycled through three different quarterbacks this year, including veteran Tyrod Taylor and now Cook, who’s shown enough to keep the job for the final stretch of a lost season.
Fields hasn’t played since November 13 against the Patriots, and he’s been inactive for the last three games. With the Jets sitting at 3-12 and already thinking about 2026 and beyond, the writing is on the wall.
Fields carries a $23 million cap hit in 2026, and releasing him this offseason would trigger a $22 million dead-money charge - with only $1 million in cap savings. That’s not ideal, but in today’s NFL, teams have shown they’re willing to eat big dead-money hits to move on from quarterbacks who aren’t part of the future.
Need proof? The Jets already did it once with Rodgers, absorbing a $49 million dead-money charge spread over two years. In that context, the Fields hit feels a lot more manageable.
Looking ahead, the Jets are armed with draft capital. They’re projected to hold five first-round picks across the 2026 and 2027 drafts, including what’s currently the fourth overall pick in 2026.
That’s prime positioning to go get a quarterback - whether it’s someone like Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore, or another top prospect. If the Jets fall in love with a particular guy, they may have to trade up to secure him, but they’ve got the ammunition to do it.
For now, the focus shifts to evaluating Cook and preparing for what promises to be a pivotal offseason. Fields’ time in New York may have been short, but it was emblematic of a team still searching for stability under center. With a high draft pick on the horizon and a front office unafraid to make bold moves, the Jets are once again at a quarterback crossroads.