The New York Jets are hoping Justin Fields is the answer at quarterback.
Head coach Aaron Glenn believes the former Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears quarterback is poised for a solid season with Gang Green.
"He has a quiet confidence about himself," Glenn told NFL Network Senior National Columnist Judy Battista on Sunday at the Annual League Meeting. "He can really throw the deep ball really, really well. Obviously, his legs are something that's dynamic not just in college but the NFL, as well. I just think he's ready to break out as a top-notch quarterback. So, he's going to do everything he can to be one of the better ones and we are going to coach our asses off to make sure he does a good job out there."
Darren Mougey would certainly be pleased if Glenn's breakout prediction comes to fruition, as the general manager reaffirmed to reporters Sunday the Jets' view of Fields as QB1.
"We believe Justin is the starter," Mougey said, per the team website. "We believe in Justin -- we believe we can win with Justin. So, we're excited about Justin."
That puts Fields in line to take over the job vacated by Aaron Rodgers, with Glenn, Mougey and New York hoping to go into the 2025 season with all the confidence they can get as they try to end a playoff drought that's now reached 14 years.
In Fields' one-year stop in Pittsburgh, he showed that he could win on the strength of both his throwing and scrambling. He started the first six games of the 2024 season as Russell Wilson dealt with a calf injury, going 4-2 before Wilson healed up and passed him on the depth chart. Fields completed a career-high 65.8% of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He also contributed 62 rushes for 289 yards and five TDs on the ground.
When Glenn was asked how he envisions using Fields, the Jets first-year head coach replied, "I envision him playing quarterback. Whatever that may be, that's how we are going to utilize him."
Along with Glenn's vision of how to use Fields, he expects newly signed wide receiver Josh Reynolds to make an impact in the run game, one of Fields' strengths.
"Leadership, first and foremost," Glenn said of his expectations for Reynolds on offense. "Obviously, a guy that's been there and done that. He's familiar with what we want to do on offense. The one thing people don't realize is that he's a really good blocker, which opens up a lot of other things on your offense. Usually, when your receivers block, big plays happen."
Glenn and Mougey have brought in some pieces to put Fields in the best position to succeed in Year 1, and they'll be looking to add more to the puzzle in the 2025 NFL Draft.
