The New York Jets traded Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The New York Jets traded QB Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Fields is heading to the Chiefs to serve as Patrick Mahomes' backup, while the Jets continue to stockpile future draft picks.
NFL analyst Seth Walder of ESPN graded the Fields trade for the Jets and Chiefs and he gave New York a B+.
"Would they have found a trade partner if the Chiefs didn't step up? It's possible," Walder wrote. "But if not, they would have almost certainly released Fields and not received any draft compensation. In that scenario, the Chiefs -- with coach Andy Reid and the potential of early-season starts -- surely would have been a very attractive destination for Fields on the veteran minimum."
The Jets owed Fields $10 million fully guaranteed (out of a $20 million salary) prior to the trade, and to facilitate the deal, New York will pay $7 million.
Fields put up 1,259 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, one interception, 383 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns last season. He was benched for Tyrod Taylor.
An Ohio State product, Fields has played for the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and Jets. He has 9,039 passing yards, 52 passing touchdowns, 32 interceptions, 2,892 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in the NFL.
The 26-year-old Fields was the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Bears. He is only 16-37-0 as a starter in the NFL
The Jets' QB room is Geno Smith, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. New York acquired Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.
In his first stint with the Jets, Smith went 12-18 as a starter. He threw for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. It wasn't pretty.
Smith enters next season with 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions in the NFL. His starting record is 42-56-0.
The Jets have the second pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They won just three games last season.
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