Moving on from Justin Fields feels less like a question and more like a guarantee for the New York Jets this offseason, and rightfully so.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets are expected to move on from Fields this offseason by releasing him, which goes to show how quickly things changed.
Fields was once viewed as a potential solution at quarterback under Aaron Glenn, but by the end of the season, he had been pushed down the depth chart and eventually placed on IR. That alone told us what happened.
“A cap cut. Quarterback Justin Fields, essentially demoted to third string before being placed on injured reserve, is likely to be released. He's due to make $20 million, including $10 million guaranteed, next season.
“The decision goes beyond money; Fields wasn't a good fit. Maybe they can drum up some trade interest, but only if they agree to eat most of his guarantee. He will leave behind $22 million in dead cap, which can be spread over two years,” he wrote.
Sure, the money matters, as $20 million for a quarterback who couldn’t hold onto a starting role is hard to justify, especially for the Jets, but the decision isn’t just about the money.
Fields was never a good fit in this offense, and the organization never looked fully committed to building around him. I can’t blame them.
The Jets need a star at quarterback, and Fields has simply never been that. Maybe he could’ve been better with a team around him, but that’s not where this roster is right now.
Leaving behind $22 million, even if it’s spread over two years, isn’t ideal for a team with plenty of holes to fill. However, keeping Fields just to keep him would only make things worse.
At some point, the Jets have to tear everything down, and it sounds like that’s the plan.
A trade sounds nice in theory, but as Cimini noted, it would likely require the Jets to eat most of the money anyways, making it unlikely.
This isn’t a fun move or one that anyone wanted a few months ago, but it’s a necessary one.