Jets $40 million move ranked among best of 2025 NFL offseason
After a disappointing 5-12 season in 2024 with Aaron Rodgers under center, the New York Jets decided to make some significant changes this offseason, turning over their coaching staff, front office and a good portion of the roster.
New York decided to move on from a few key players, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has since landed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
To take his place, the Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal. Interestingly, that transaction was seen as the fifth-best move by a team this offseason, according to Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport.
“Why the Pittsburgh Steelers stubbornly refused to turn back to Fields last year even when the team faltered late is a mystery right up there with Stonehenge and those Easter Island heads,” Davenport wrote. “Fields has his flaws, but he’s also still just 26 years old and one of the NFL’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Getting even an average NFL starter for $20 million a season is a felony in 11 states.”
Fields, 26, played at Georgia in 2018 before transferring to Ohio State and spending 2019-20 with the Buckeyes. At his second stop, he earned All-Big Ten honors twice and All-American honors once.
The Chicago Bears took Fields in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2021 NFL draft, and after starting the year as Andy Dalton’s backup, he took over in Week 2 and never looked back.
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In three seasons in Chicago, he led the Bears to a 14-30 record and completed 60.3% of his passes for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions while rushing for 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Chicago traded Fields to Pittsburgh last offseason. Due to Russell Wilson’s injury, Fields appeared in 10 games and started six, leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record. He completed a career-high 65.8% of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception and added an addition 289 yards and five scores on the ground.
New York may have better weapons in 2025 than Pittsburgh had last year, so Fields could be put in a better situation for success. If he can do what he did last year for a full season, the Jets might just be able to snag a wild-card spot.
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