Jets Predicted to Cut Ties With QB Justin Fields Amid Rumors

Financial Reality Taking Center Stage

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell outlined why the Jets will likely release Fields this winter. Half of his 2026 salary is already guaranteed, which puts the team on the hook for $10 million of his $20 million base. Releasing him would save the additional $10 million that would trigger in 2027. New York has major roster decisions coming, and clearing future cap space gives them flexibility at a time when they need it most.

The structure of Fields’ contract mirrors what several teams have done with second-chance quarterbacks. The guaranteed money covers short-term risk without locking the franchise into a long commitment. Once performance fails to match the investment, the out becomes the realistic path. That is the exact spot the Jets have reached.

A Position the Jets Must Get Right

The Jets have cycled through quarterback solutions for more than a decade. Fields was viewed as a creative swing that could pay off if development aligned with opportunity. The season showed that the gap still exists between potential and production. The 26-year-old was the 11th overall pick by the Bears in the 2021 draft.

He has thrown for 1,143 yards and six touchdowns on the season. He threw his first interception of the season in Week 10, a game the Jets won 27-20. It was their second straight win following seven losses to start the season

Current Outlook for Fields

Fields can still bring value to a team because of his athletic tools and experience starting in multiple systems. A release would place him in a market where several teams will be searching for competition at the position.

If Fields and the Jets part ways after the season, his next stop would be his fourth team in as many seasons. After three years in Chicago, he played 10 games for the Steelers in 2024 and has played eight of the nine Jets games thus far in 2025.

Projected Jets Quarterback Options For 2026

• Veteran with starting experience
• Mid-round draft pick to develop
• Trade candidate on expiring contract

The next few months will shape the Jets' long-term outlook. Moving on from Fields could be the first step toward another reset at a position that has defined so much of the franchise’s recent history.

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