FOXBOROUGH, MA – The New York Jets made their intentions for the second half of the 2025 season clear at the trade deadline by moving on from linchpins of the defense and stockpiling draft picks with an eye for the future. For a team that sank to 2-8 days later with a 27-14 "Thursday Night Football" defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots, the pair of blockbuster deals were undoubtedly forward-thinking moves by first-year general manager Darren Mougey.
Winning – including New York's victory over the fellow bottom-feeding Cleveland Browns on Nov. 9 – comes at a cost. The price is precious draft position.
Which is why employing Justin Fields as quarterback is about the smartest decision a tanking team could make in the modern NFL.
That’s a harsh criticism of Fields, yes. But one of the primary job descriptions of “quarterback” is throwing the ball. Fields, at present, in this Jets’ offense, is largely incapable of performing the task.
Fields finished 15-for-26 passing with 116 yards through the air. He also rushed 11 times for 67 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown on the game's opening series, which took eight minutes and four seconds off the clock. That drive resembled the product of a professional offense.
