Since moving on from Aaron Rodgers, the Jets have done everything to make it clear that Justin Fields is their QB1. For starters, they offered him a two-year $40 million contract, showing faith in his abilities. Since then, both GM Omar Khan and new head coach Aaron Glenn have backed him. “Listen, we want to surround Justin with good skill players, along with a good offensive line,” Glenn said. And they did walk the talk in the draft. Not only did they bolster their offensive ranks, but they reiterated their belief and commitment to Fields by not drafting a single quarterback in their seven picks. This sent a simple message to Fields that he is their preferred choice, at least for now.

“They don’t pay bad players that type of money,” rookie tight end Mason Taylor said, referring to Justin Fields’ 2-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. The LSU product couldn’t stop praising Fields, calling him “a really good quarterback.” It’s a sentiment quietly shared throughout the Jets camp with the hope that Fields can finally change their playoff fortunes. Since 2010, the team has made just one postseason appearance. Head coach Aaron Glenn is doing his part to signal confidence. He’s declared Fields as the starter, with Tyrod Taylor slotted as the backup. But the bigger picture is more nuanced.

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the franchise wants to give Fields one full season to prove himself. If he falters, the team is eyeing the quarterback-loaded 2026 draft class for a potential reset. “A $30M guarantee … three draft picks on offense … no QB picks. The #Jets want Justin Fields to be more than a post-Rodgers transition QB. And if it doesn’t work … a loaded QB draft in ‘26,” Cimini wrote on X on May 3.

The Jets’ 2025 draft class speaks volumes. Three of their seven picks targeted offensive talent: Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou (1st round, 7th overall), LSU tight end Mason Taylor (2nd round, 35th overall), and Georgia speedster Arian Smith (4th round, 110th overall). But no quarterback was drafted. This absence suggests a clear plan: the Jets are going all-in on Justin Fields, at least for another season.

While the Jets didn’t pursue a signal caller in the draft, they did add Missouri quarterback Brady Cook as an undrafted free agent—a subtle move that reinforces their current, even if time-framed, confidence in Fields.

Cimini also wrote for ESPN, “By not drafting one (QB), the Jets sent a message, over and over, that they’re all-in on Fields,” Cimini wrote. “It’s almost like they didn’t want a draft pick on the team to cloud what they believe is a clear picture: Fields is the starter. Veteran Tyrod Taylor is the backup. Period.”

In the 2024 NFL season, Justin Fields began a new chapter with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being traded from the Chicago Bears for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. Fields appeared in 10 games, starting six, and led the Steelers to a 4–2 record during his starts. Statistically, he completed 106 of 161 passes (65.8% completion rate) for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, achieving a passer rating of 93.3. On the ground, he added 289 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Despite this solid performance, Fields eventually ceded the starting role to veteran quarterback Russell Wilson before being signed by the Jets. Now, Fields has been thrust into the spotlight, replacing Aaron Rodgers at QB1. The Jets, to their credit, have tried to equip him with all the tools.

“So that’s the plan, it’s always been the plan, and that’s something that we’ve talked about before. Let him be a quarterback and surround him with good players,” HC Glenn clarified. Meanwhile, the Jets have been urged to match Glenn’s vision for a rugged, resilient team by bringing back a familiar face to New York.

Aaron Glenn urged to sign a beast in defense

This marks Aaron Glenn’s third stint with the Jets—first as a player (1994–2001), then as a scout (2012–2013), and now, as head coach. With expectations sky-high, Glenn is building a roster that can compete in the trenches, and one particular signing could prove to be game game-changer.

To bolster their defensive interior, the Jets have been urged to sign Folorunso “Foley” Fatukasi—a 6-foot-4, 318-pound defensive tackle with seven years of NFL experience. Originally drafted by the Jets in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2018 Draft, Fatukasi could return after stints with the Jaguars and Texans. In 2022, he signed a 3-year, $30 million deal with Jacksonville before moving to Houston in 2024.

Jets analyst Joe Caporoso pushed the team to get Fatukasi back. In response to a fan question on X asking him, “Any UDFAs you’d like to see get brought in?”, he said, “Bring home Foley Fatukasi.” Fatukasi, 30, spent this past season on the Houston Texans on a one-year $5.1 million contract.

His return wouldn’t be just sentimental. Fatukasi is known for his run-stuffing ability, with 86 career games (63 starts), 187 tackles (106 solo), 5.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, and one forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned an 86.2 run defense grade in 2020, ranking among the league’s top defensive tackles. Glenn is betting on that toughness to help anchor the defense.

Last season, opponents attacked the Jets on the ground with frequency. New York faced the fifth-most rushing attempts in the league (504) and surrendered 22 rushing touchdowns, tied for the third-most allowed. Folorunso Fatukasi’s return could provide a much-needed boost to a run defense that remains one of the team’s most pressing concerns.

Between reshaping the offensive cast around Fields and reinvesting in the defensive front, the Jets are making clear, calculated moves. But the clock is ticking. Will Justin Fields seize this opportunity, or will New York be browsing quarterback résumés again next spring? Only time—and wins—will tell.