The big splash of the New York Jets' offseason was signing Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract. The talk of the offseason surrounding the Jets is the role he'll play with the Jets both in the upcoming NFL season and beyond.
Fields will certainly get the opportunity to start to open 2025. His future beyond that will come down to his performance. At just 26 years old, he very well could be the long-term solution for the Jets at quarterback if he reaches the potential that got him drafted No. 11 out of Ohio State.
The other quarterbacks on the team are veteran Tyrod Taylor, who is 35 years old and not the long-term answer, and Jordan Travis, who is coming off a torn ACL and hasn't seen any NFL action. Travis spent six years in college, and will be turning 25 before the season starts without a single snap of NFL play under his belt.
Despite being drafted by a different regime, new head coach Aaron Glenn will still give Travis the opportunity to compete.
"If he's ready to play, he's gonna compete," said Glenn last week. "From his days in college I think he was a pretty damn good player, so once he gets cleared, he's gonna get a chance to compete."
Travis hasn't played in a game since 2023 when he was a top-five finisher in the Heisman Trophy race.
ESPN's Rich Cimini has caught on to a trend for Glenn though, especially as it pertains to quarterbacks, and it could inform how the team addresses the position in the future.
"Fleet QBs wanted: It became clear in talking to (Aaron Glenn) that he values quarterbacks with mobility -- one of the qualities that attracted him to Justin Fields," Cimini reported. "Applying that thinking to the draft, the prospects to watch include Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Tyler Shough (Louisville) and Jalen Milroe (Alabama) -- all good runners. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand attended Shough's pro day."
Dart ran for 495 yards in his senior season at Ole Miss, with his career high coming in his sophomore season with 614. Shough, in his seven collegiate seasons, eclipsed 100 yards thrice, and 200 yards just twice. Milroe set his career high in his senior campaign, tallying 726 yards on the ground and 20 touchdowns.
Travis ran for 1,950 yards in his collegiate career. He only tallied 176 yards in his final season, but had two 500-yard seasons on the ground. Travis ran for seven touchdowns in each of his final four years in college.
