Credit: AP Photo/John Locher
The first four years of Justin Fields’ career in the NFL have been a rollercoaster. The former Ohio State quarterback has shown flashes of dynamic, game-shaking talent. Unfortunately, the highlight reel hasn’t been quite electric enough to distract from the frustration and disappointment surrounding Fields’ body of work. He’s shown difficulty progressing through reads and getting the ball out on time. These issues, among others, led to Chicago’s decision to ship Fields to Pittsburgh for a late-round pick over the offseason. The same issues showed themselves in Pittsburgh, and Fields eventually took a seat on the sideline to watch Russell Wilson lead the Steelers’ offense.
A new opportunity may come for Justin Fields in 2025. Fields will be a free agent this offseason, and he should be one of the top options at the quarterback position. In an offseason with a weak draft class at quarterback, Fields may find himself competing for a starting job once again. We’ve seen players labeled as busts find a career resurgence in new homes before. Will Justin Fields become the next Baker Mayfield? The next Sam Darnold? The answer will depend heavily on his landing spot. Here are a few of the most likely options for Fields:
New York Jets
The Aaron Rodgers experiment in New York has failed miserably. Though Rodgers still has one year left on his current contract, it’s likely that he’ll part ways with the Jets at the end of the season. If New York chooses to look to free agency to fill the position, Fields may be an intriguing option. The Jets’ offense is loaded with talent at key positions, including young stars like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. While New York doesn’t have a history of fostering quality quarterback play, this could be one of Fields’ few opportunities to win a starting job.
Cleveland Browns
Like the Jets, the Browns took a big swing at quarterback and missed terribly. Deshaun Watson was unable to conduct a functional offense when healthy this season. Cleveland may not be able to completely move on from Watson financially, but they could look to add competition behind their $230 million man. Kevin Stefanski’s run-heavy scheme would take pressure off of Fields, allowing him to make quick and simple reads. Cleveland’s offense has improved significantly with Jameis Winston under center. Could Justin Fields see the same level of success?
New Orleans Saints
The Saints could realistically move on from Derek Carr after this season. Carr has heavy ties to recently fired coach Denis Allen that won’t exist with the Saints’ next head coach. If the new regime decides to move on from Carr, they may not have a high enough draft pick to take his replacement. Enter, Justin Fields. While it’s impossible to know how Fields would fit into the scheme of an unknown coach, he would provide a cheap, short-term option to a franchise in serious financial trouble.
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