The New York Jets signed Justin Fields in free agency and are leaving no doubt about his role for the 2025 NFL season.
Jets general manager Darren Mougey told reporters at the league's annual meeting Sunday that New York planned on the 26-year-old being the team's starting quarterback.
"We believe Justin is the starter," Mougey said. "We believe in Justin. We believe we can win with Justin, so we're excited about Justin."
Mougey's announcement wasn't a surprise, as the Jets paid Fields like a starter. He got a two-year deal in free agency worth up to $40 million, $30 million of which is guaranteed. His $20 million average annual value (AAV) presently ranks 20th among NFL quarterbacks, per OverTheCap.com, putting him firmly in the league's growing middle class of quarterbacks.
Why are the Jets confident in Fields? They like his "unique athletic skill set that adds another dimension to the game that's hard to defend" and thought he showed great improvement during his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"You saw it last year," Mougey said. "He was 4-2 as the starter and probably had some of the best quarterback play of his career. We're going to do everything to support him when he gets here."
Mougey believes that with that type of support, Fields could continue to make major strides and establish himself as a quality starter at the NFL level, much like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold were eventually able to do after bumpy starts to their careers.
"We have seen some of that as of late and it did [make an impact] as we went through the process," Mougey said, referencing the high-drafted quarterbacks finding success deeper into their careers. "And we think we could have the same."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justin Fields to start for Jets: 'We believe in Justin,' GM says
