After moving on from Aaron Rodgers, one of the top priorities for GM Darren Mougey and the new Jets regime this offseason quickly became finding themselves a new quarterback.
New York may still look to add a young gunslinger at some point during the draft, but they also landed an intriguing low-risk piece during the first day of free agency, bringing in Justin Fields on a two-year deal.
Fields garnered a ton of interest as he reached the open market for the first time in his career — and he reportedly received a similar offer to return to the Steelers, but he opted to come to the Big Apple to play under new head coach Aaron Glenn.
The two, of course, are plenty familiar with each other from their days competing in the NFC North.
“I played against him early in my career,” Fields told Ethan Greenberg of newyorkjets.com. “For him to want me here is definitely an honor. I know how passionate he is about the game, the way he coaches, the way his players play — I’m going to put it all on the line and do all I can to help the team be successful.”
The 26-year-old had plenty of hype surrounding him when he was selected with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 Draft out of Ohio State University, but he hasn’t quite lived up to that to this point.
After three up-and-down seasons in Chicago, Fields was shipped off to the Steelers in an offseason deal, where he started the first six games in place of the injured Russell Wilson and showcased his two-way skillset with a total 1,396 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns.
Now heading into a year with new weapons and a whole new offensive system, Fields is hoping to be able to reach into some of that upside he’s displayed at times during his career.
“I know I definitely have some untapped potential,” he said. “I’m hoping to get there this year and I’m hoping to put that on display for everybody to see — the fans, the city, when you win here there’s no better place to win.”
And Fields will be doing so with some familiar faces around him.
New York already had two of his weapons while at Ohio State in star WR Garrett Wilson and TE Jeremy Ruckert — and then they also brought in Josh Myers, his center for his final two years, to compete with Joe Tippmann for a starting spot.
“I’m excited to be back with some Buckeyes for sure,” the quarterback added.
Last week’s collection of team proposals for the upcoming league meetings included a suggestion from the Steelers to put a little more legal tampering into the legal tampering period.
Pittsburgh wants two things that are already happening to be officially permitted: (1) direct communication between teams and players during the negotiating window; and (2) travel arrangements during the negotiating window for players who have agreed to terms.
Currently, the rules permit direct communication during the 52-hour window only with players who are not represented by NFLPA-certified agents. Also, no travel arrangements of any kind can be made until after the official start of the league year.
Both rules are routinely violated. Last year, Penn State coach James Franklin let the cat out of the bag regarding direct communications between running back Saquon Barkley and G.M. Howie Roseman. (The league investigated and found no violation.)
Also, travel arrangements are routinely made before the ball drops on the New League Year. This year, for example, word of planned trips by quarterback Russell Wilson to the Browns and Giants emerged minutes after 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12.
If the rules are going to change, we’d suggest something more meaningful. Before the negotiating window opens, why not allow visits?
As it stands, players agree to contracts without ever, in plenty of cases, setting foot in the team facility. They don’t meet the team, the team doesn’t meet them. It’s a crappy way of doing business, but it’s the way business traditionally gets done. Because free agency is always a feeding frenzy of matching available players with available jobs.
It would make sense for everyone to make a change that is more than cosmetic. So while we like the idea of the Steelers thinking about new ways to handle the pre-free agency process, they (and everyone else) should be thinking bigger
