Justin Fields has a clear path ahead for the New York Jets this offseason after signing a two-year deal in free agency.
Some thought he would be involved in a training camp battle with veteran Tyrod Taylor for the starting position, but Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey put a pin in that thought rather early, announcing Fields as the starter.
But in doing so, the franchise might have just created some unnecessary pressure that puts Fields in a bind.
For NJ.com’s Andy Vasquez, Fields has a lot to prove this offseason.
“He was the Jets’ most high-profile offseason addition by far, after they signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed, which creates its own pressure,” Vasquez writes. “And more was created when Glenn and Mougey named him the starting quarterback, bypassing a competition with Tyrod Taylor during training camp and saying they’re building the roster around him.
“That won’t stop fans or reporters from comparing to Taylor during camp – and perhaps even before. And it won’t change the fact that Fields has yet to distinguish himself as a no-doubt starter in is first four seasons in the league.”
What if Fields doesn’t look good in training camp, and Taylor does? What will that do to the “Fields being our starter” talk?
Clearly, the front office feels better about Fields than Taylor leading the offense under Tanner Engstrand, but Justin had better come out and be decidedly better than Tyrod in training camp.
Fields gets a clean run at the 2025 season as he looks to finally put it all together in a way he has yet to do in the NFL.
Glenn has given him the starting role and put solid pieces around him, and now it’s time to make good on all these moves by playing consistently good football.
Something that Fields has yet to show in his four years in the league, and that invites a level of pressure many aren’t sure Justin can withstand.
Jets Rookie Earns Comparison to Chiefs Star TE Travis Kelce
ANew York Jets rookie just earned some serious high praise.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger compared Mason Taylor to Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce.
“When you watch him run, there’s just not a lot of guys that are that big at 6-foo-5, 250 [pounds] that are that smooth. When I said a couple of weeks ago he reminds you of the way that he runs, I’m not… look, the production of Travis Kelce is off the charts, but he [Mason] looks like Travis Kelce running,” Baldinger said on the “Jets Overtime Draft Special.”
The Jets have never had a tight end in their franchise history eclipse 1,000 receiving yards. Mickey Shuler recorded the most receiving yards ever for a Jets tight end in a single season, he had 879 back in 1985.
Rich Caster has the most receiving touchdowns ever in a single season for a Jets tight end with 10. He accomplished that in 1972, back during the 14-game season era.