TL;DR
- New York Jets bench Justin Fields for Week 12, turning to Tyrod Taylor.
- Fields' future with the Jets appears uncertain, with a projected move to a fourth NFL team in 2026.
- The Jets have significant cap space to accommodate Fields' departure, potentially via trade or release.
- Fields' strengths as a runner are noted, but his passing limitations hinder his starter potential.
The New York Jets have been fickle about Justin Fields' status as their starting quarterback throughout the 2025 NFL regular season, his first season with the team.
The Jets have decided it is in their best interest to bench Fields for their Week 12 game against the Ravens and beyond, turning to 36-year-old, well-traveled backup Tyrod Taylor.
This doesn't suggest a positive outlook for Fields' second season with The Jets. It appears the Jets are ready to move on from another underperforming QB, following the unsuccessful two-year tenure of Aaron Rodgers.
Looking ahead, benched Fields is now projected to join a fourth NFL team in 2026:
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Justin Fields' agreement with The Jets
After failing to reach a new agreement with the Steelers and their subsequent decision to sign Rodgers over him and Russell Wilson, Fields secured a two-year contract worth $40 million with The Jets during the offseason. He received $30 million in guaranteed money, a surprisingly substantial investment.
Releasing Fields without a June 1 designation in '26 would result in the Jets incurring a $22 million dead money charge against his $23 million cap figure. A trade prior to next March would lower that dead money to $12 million. Regardless, by shedding the substantial salaries of defensive standouts Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, the Jets possess ample projected cap room (approaching $100 million) to accommodate a costly departure from Fields' contract.
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What's the future for Justin Fields?
Additional teams will require a quarterback in 2026. Certain clubs will alter their offensive coaching strategies, consequently shifting their focus for veteran quarterback acquisitions.
Fields is a careful passer and willing runner, so at this point, with his post-Chicago opportunities in Pittsburgh and New York not panning out, his best bet is to land as a backup QB. That's because in the running QB mold, benched younger Colt Anthony Richardson, 23, has more upside than Fields. Fields turns 27 in March, just less than five years since the Bears drafted him No. 11 overall.
The Raiders, Saints and other teams had opportunities to go after Fields for a couple of offseasons and passed. It would now make the most sense for Fields to further develop as an NFL QB.
MORE: Recent history of Jets starting QBs, from Mark Sanchez to Justin Fields
Marcus Mariota (Commanders), Tyler Huntley (Ravens), Trey Lance (Chargers) and former top Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky (Bills), also a first-round pick, will all be free agents in 2026. Fields is at a career juncture where, if he couldn't advance with The Jets, he'd be better suited as a backup to a premier starter like Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, or Josh Allen.
Fields is one of the league's most dynamic running quarterbacks. But his major problem has been a reluctance and lack of confidence to throw the ball downfield. That won't cut it anymore as starter material until he has real time to develop as a passer without playing.
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