Could Jets' Justin Fields lose starting job to Tyrod Taylor or rookie QB?

The New York Jets reportedly are at least somewhat "enamored with" Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart even though they signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40M deal with $30M guaranteed and have veteran backup Tyrod Taylor on their roster. 

For a mailbag published on Monday, NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY addressed whether or not Fields is the Jets' current QB1 and will stay in that role through at least Week 1 of the 2025 season. 

"The Jets didn’t sign Justin Fields to have him ride the bench," Hughes explained. "This is a bit of a transitional year, yes, but he’s their lottery ticket. They knew they needed a quarterback. Fields had the most upside of any available with little financial fallback. ... While Fields won’t have to win the job, per se, that doesn’t mean he can’t lose it. If he doesn’t fit in with [offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand] or struggles mightily in camp or early in the season, I’d expect the Jets to turn to Tyrod Taylor. There is an immense amount of respect for Taylor within the Jets locker room – he received captaincy votes as Aaron Rodgers' backup a year ago. The Jets won’t ride Fields into the ground if it’s not working."

The Chicago Bears gave up on Fields after three seasons, and he most recently went 4-2 as the Pittsburgh Steelers' starter before he was benched in favor of Russell Wilson. Meanwhile, the Jets aren't truly married to Fields, as they can escape his contract as soon as next offseason. 

Hughes added that he feels "the Jets' franchise quarterback is not on their roster" this spring. That could change if Gang Green takes Dart or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders with the seventh pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. 

"The Jets current roster structure actually affords them a much better situation to [draft a quarterback]," Hughes continued. "They have Fields and Taylor. There is no rush to force a young quarterback to play before he’s ready. He can sit a full year and develop. The only downside would be keeping three quarterbacks on the 53. But, again, if you believe in the player: That doesn’t matter."

Numerous reporters and analysts believe the Tennessee Titans will select Miami QB Cam Ward with the first overall pick of the draft and that the Cleveland Browns will take Sanders at No. 2. Such a scenario could result in the New York Giants grabbing Dart with the third pick, but it's also possible he could be on the board when the Jets are called to spend the seventh selection. 

In short, it sounds like the Jets haven't completely closed the door on drafting Dart or a different quarterback in the first round on the night of April 24.