NY Jets should not consider Justin Fields as QB option..
The former Bears quarterback may not be the quarterback the Jets are looking for.
With the revelation that Aaron Rodgers will no longer be a member of the New York Jets, the floodgates have opened, with every possible option on the table for New York. While some believe the answer lies in the draft, others think the Jets should utilize a bridge option at quarterback until the team truly has their answer. One of the options that has been a favorite amongst fans, even before Rodgers’ official departure, is Justin Fields.
The former Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has floundered in his two opportunities as a starter. And, even though I was once a believer myself during his time at Ohio State, the writing is now on the wall for a player who has shown that while he has something, he doesn’t necessarily have it.
Fool’s Gold
In Fields’ first season with the Chicago Bears, the rookie looked like a potential dual-threat monster. The only problem is that his play-speed as a processor saw drastic decline.
Gimme Anthony Richardson over Justin Fields in dynasty right now.
pic.twitter.com/JkyVN9uUyx
— Aaron St Denis (@FFMadScientist) September 18, 2023
The rookie’s 3.06 seconds was the second-highest time to throw among quarterbacks that year (only behind Jalen Hurts), yet he had the sixth-highest pressure to sack ratio (23.8%). That means that whether the pocket was clean, or he was escaping, Fields didn’t make much happen as a passer. The following year was even worse: 3.45 seconds to throw the ball (first among QBs in 2022), with the third-highest pressure to sack ratio in the league. Fields’ final year with the Bears in 2023 was pretty much the same story. He led in time to throw, yet this time he improved his pressure-to-sack ratio, finishing 17th in the league. However, this is because he saw a career high in attempts with 370.
The other numbers back this up, too.
Since 2021, Justin Fields has the fifth-worst EPA/Play and Composite CPOE among 35 total quarterbacks (min. 1,000 dropbacks since 2021). Now, a lot of people point to outside factors as to why Fields did not succeed with Chicago. While some of these points have merit to an extent, Justin didn’t exactly blow people away with his performance in 2024 with the Steelers, either.
In Pittsburgh, Fields finished 17th in EPA/Play and Composite CPOE. And, because of that, it can be argued that coaching mattered. Unfortunately, that argument falls apart considering head coach Mike Tomlin opted to bench Fields for Russell Wilson, despite the former having a winning record as a starter.
A Jet That Should Be Able To See The Field
That brings us back to the Jets, where there’s a hole at the position and fans are clamoring for an answer. Some see Fields as a viable option behind Tyrod Taylor, while others still see some upside on the fifth-year player. Yet while the optimism is much needed in the Jets community, it isn’t an option New York fans should be clamoring for.
Quarterbacks who only rely on their legs don’t age well. This is especially true if they don’t have the ability to process opposing defenses quickly. That’s because that weakness limits the entire offense as a whole. If the Jets were opting to run an entirely new (and true) power run approach, Fields would be worth targeting. However, that doesn’t seem likely to be the case under new head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
It’s easy to fall in love with rushing highlights and escapability at the quarterback position. The following play is a perfect example of this.
Justin Fields Girlfriend – “if you don’t get a first down here I get to go through your phone”
Justin Fields pic.twitter.com/uiGY6jGoGD
— FF Mike Kash (@FFMikeKash) January 3, 2024
Yet, after the tremendous escape job, Fields never looks back down the field. If he did, he would have seen his receiver wide open from the separation Fields created with his legs. Instead of a 20+ yard play, the Bears settle for a short-yardage conversion. It’s something that the quarterback has continued to struggle with in the NFL, with no revelation coming anytime soon.
On top of everything else, at the end of the day, all that matters in the NFL is wins. A 14-30 record as a starting quarterback in four years just isn’t going to cut it. New York needs a culture change at quarterback, not a rehash on a failed quarterback experiment. With multiple options for the Jets to choose from, Fields should be one that the team stays away from going forward.
