The New York Jets may have signed Justin Fields to a two-year deal, but that doesn’t mean they’re set at quarterback for the long haul. One analyst believes the team could still draft a QB early in Round 1. At first glance, the move might seem unnecessary, but a closer look reveals a strategy that could finally bring stability to the Jets’ quarterback room.
With Justin Fields, Could the New York Jets Still Draft Jaxson Dart?
In trying to fix the Jets, Los Angeles Times columnist Sam Farmer looked to solve a problem. Despite the team signing Fields, Farmer predicts the organization will select former Ole Miss standout Jaxson Dart at No. 7 overall.
From afar, that pick doesn’t seem to make sense. However, the closer you look, the better the plan works. In his prediction, Farmer sees Dart as a long-term solution to what the team truly needs.
For right now, Fields is the starting quarterback of the Jets. Armed with a two-year contract with a hefty $30 million guarantee, the team will roll him out in Week 1.
Now, that isn’t to say Fields will even be the quarterback a year from now. The fluid nature of the NFL, combined with the contract’s purposeful brevity, gives management flexibility.
As stops in two different cities will attest, Fields still needs a ton of work. To their credit, Pittsburgh’s offense tailored specifically to his styles while limiting the number of tricky routes that he did not make in Chicago.
Completing 65% with crispness actually helped Fields’ cause. However, the Steelers only scored 20 or more points in three of those games. Furthermore, of the teams faced, only two finished with winning records.
Meanwhile, Dart would prove to become a worthy replacement. Granted, he does not possess anything close to Fields’ athleticism. At the same time, he does just enough to escape the pocket. In addition, when he does move around the pocket, watch his eyes.
Dart looks downfield in the hopes of a teammate working back to him, getting open late. From a passer template, the former All-SEC selection wins that battle hands down.
After Fields’ existing deal expires, those two years on the bench could develop Dart even further. Without the stressors of dealing with carrying the franchise as a rookie, the younger quarterback can learn the game at a slower rate. Additionally, the Jets still employ their No. 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson.
Davante Adams’ late-career sojourn to the Big Apple notwithstanding, Wilson is the future of the Jets. After posting three straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career, the traits definitely more than exist. Imagine a Dart/Wilson combination teaming up in New York. Instead of retreads and atrocious picks, New York solves their problem with the young duo.
Need vs. Want
If you stick to the strictest interpretation, Jaxon Dart currently resides in the want category instead of the need. As mentioned, the Jets signed Fields. Yet, Dart wanders over to the need category when you take into consideration that for the next four years, Dart would cost significantly less than Fields in the short term.
Tied into a rookie contract lets the Jets off the hook for the next few seasons. As a result, they can shore up other areas of need, such as receiver. Now, that is to say, the team needs to find a wideout to pair with Wilson.
KEEP READING: Lane Kiffin’s QB Son Knox Kiffin Gives Jaxson Dart a 3-Word Shoutout After Pro Day
In his assertions and mock draft, Farmer hit the nail on the head. Drafting Dart with the seventh pick would benefit the Jets. Don’t obsess on where the team would draft Dart, more of his ceiling for long-term success.
For the next season-plus, Fields looks to lead the team. However, nothing during the 44 starts over the first four seasons, leads you to believe that he presents the solution.
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