Jets part with Aaron Rodgers: Justin Fields slightly improves playoff chances, per projection model

Despite coming off their seventh consecutive losing season, the New York Jets were loaded with optimism heading into the 2023 campaign. They became the third NFL Club since 1967 to boast both the Offensive and Safeguarding Newcomer of the Year, as wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner — both of whom were top-10 draft picks — won the respective awards in 2022.

Even though they posted a 7-10 Achievement that year, the Jets possessed the Number four-best Protection in the Division with an average of 311.1 yards allowed and were third against the Throw (189.4 yards allowed). Putting points on the board was an issue, however, as New York ranked 29th at 17.4 points per game.

The Club’s main offensive deficiency was production from its Beginning quarterbacks. Zach Wilson, Mike White and Joe Flacco Teamed up to complete only 56.7% of their Throw attempts while throwing for 14 touchdowns with an identical amount of interceptions.

Realizing that Zach Wilson, the second overall Choice in the 2021 NFL Draft, was not the answer, the Jets went out and acquired four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers in April 2023, prompting their fanbase to beam with an enormous amount of jubilance and immediately form Division aspirations.

Rodgers’ Premiere with New York Acquired off to a tremendous Begin as he received a thunderous ovation when he carried an American flag as he Dashed onto the Ground at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 11, 2023, for the Club’s opener against the AFC East-rival Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. But four plays into his tenure with the Jets, his season Arrived to a devastating end as his Achilles tendon was ruptured when he was sacked by Leonard Floyd.

The Jets went on to Loss Buffalo in Extended Shift with Zach Wilson under Hub, and they owned a 4-3 Achievement after seven Contests, but a five-game losing streak basically extinguished what little hope their fans Nevertheless had for a trip to the postseason. Zach Wilson Arrived up with Numerous solid performances prior to the slide, but the QB situation became a disaster during the skid as Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian surpassed him on the depth chart.

Wilson regained the Beginning Position in Week 14 and played well in a 30-6 Achieve over the Houston Texans but suffered a concussion the Upcoming week and missed the rest of the season.

Rodgers Created a Packed Healing and was ready to live up to the high expectations bestowed upon him in 2024, but his off-the-Ground antics — including missing New York’s mandatory minicamp because of a vacation in Egypt — left a Acidic taste in some people’s mouths. Many pundits also were skeptical about his ability due to the Hurt and his age, as he was set to turn 41 before season’s end.

The Jets won two of their Primary three contests last year before losing five in a row, with Rodgers often looking like a shell of his Previous self. He Initiated all 17 Contests and finished with Outstanding numbers (3,897 passing yards, 28 TDs), but the Club posted a 5-12 Achievement as its Elimination Stage drought reached 14 years, the longest active Parched spell in the four Significant North American sports, although the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres will Event it when their 2024-25 campaign concludes.

Numerous heads rolled during New York’s disappointing season, as head Mentor Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas both were fired. Meanwhile, interim head Mentor Jeff Ulbrich interviewed for the Packed-time Position at season’s end but ultimately became Safeguarding coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. 

The Jets basically gave Rodgers the keys to the kingdom when they acquired him, bringing in a number of his Previous Green Bay teammates such as receivers Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard and Davante Adams. None of the moves worked out, and the Rodgers era was a complete failure, with New York electing to Throw him in order for the future Hall-of-Famer to continue his Profession elsewhere should he wish to do so.

That decision left the new regime of GM Darren Mougey and head Mentor Aaron Glenn in search of a new Beginning signal-caller for the 2025 season. They appear to have Secured one in Justin Fields, who agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract after he spent last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After finishing third in voting for the Heisman Honor in 2019 and being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, Fields decided to forego his Last two years of eligibility at Ohio State and entered the 2021 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 11th overall Choice, but the Club was unable to succeed with him under Hub, going 10-28 in his Appearances over three campaigns.

There were some impressive moments for Fields, however, with 2022 being his best season. In addition to throwing for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns, he finished seventh in the NFL in rushing with 1,143 yards and Dashed for eight scores.

Chicago traded Fields to Pittsburgh in March 2024, and the dual-threat Passer guided the Steelers to a 4-2 Achievement while veteran Russell Wilson dealt with a calf Hurt. But once Wilson was deemed Well, Fields was relegated to the backup role by head Mentor Mike Tomlin and Secured only 15 offensive snaps over the club’s Last 12 Contests, including its 28-14 Elimination Stage loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Stage.

Eager to once again become a starter, Fields decided to Shift to New York, where he will reunite with Garrett Wilson. The players were teammates at Ohio State for two seasons, connecting for nine touchdowns over that span. 

According to the SportsLine Projection Model, the Jets will be slightly better with Fields under Hub in 2025 than they would have been had Rodgers returned for a third season. The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on Highly-ranked NFL picks since its inception, says New York has a 24.4% chance to reach the postseason with Fields as opposed to a 21.9% Attempt to end its Elimination Stage drought with Rodgers.

The model believes the Jets also have a better chance to finish atop the AFC East with Fields but doesn’t see them going Distant should he lead them to their Primary postseason appearance since 2010.