The New York Jets parted methods with future Corridor of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier this offseason earlier than they signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40M contract that included $30M assured.
Quite a few stats point out Fields will likely be a downgrade on the sport’s most essential place for the Jets after the membership went 5-12 with Rodgers within the lineup this previous season. Nevertheless, Wealthy Cimini of ESPN defined for a chunk revealed on Monday why there’s motive to consider Fields might give the Jets extra in the course of the upcoming marketing campaign than what Rodgers provided the franchise over its final 17 video games.
“Of their previous 17 begins, Fields is superior to Rodgers in Whole QBR (52.0 to 48.0), completion proportion over anticipated (2.4% to -5.2%) and yards per try (7.0 to six.7). Fields additionally has a greater report as a starter — 9-8 to 5-12,” Cimini wrote.
It is price mentioning that solely six of Fields’ previous 17 begins occurred when he spent the 2024 season as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He went 4-2 as Pittsburgh’s starter when Russell Wilson was coping with a lingering calf drawback, however head coach Mike Tomlin most well-liked to begin a recovered Wilson from Week 7 via the Steelers’ wild-card playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Based on Professional Soccer Reference, Rodgers ended the 2024 common season ranked twenty eighth within the league along with his 48.0 QBR. Fields’ 50.8 QBR would’ve been good for twenty fifth in that class had he completed Week 18 amongst certified gamers.
Per the StatMuse web site, solely Lamar Jackson of the Ravens collected extra regular-season dashing yards (2,352) than Fields (2,220) from 2021-2023. The Jets are anticipated to make use of Fields as a runner greater than Pittsburgh did over his six begins final season.
Neither first-time head coach Aaron Glenn nor normal supervisor Darren Mougey was with the Jets after they acquired Rodgers from the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the spring of 2023. The notion exists that Glenn and Mougey needed to keep away from having to cope with potential distractions attributable to Rodgers’ off-the-field habits, similar to his weekly in-season appearances on “The Pat McAfee Present.”
“They consider Fields, 26, is an ascending participant,” Cimini added concerning the Jets. “His understated demeanor ought to make him a greater match with Glenn than Rodgers would’ve been.”
Whereas Fields is trying to resurrect his profession with Gang Inexperienced, Rodgers is on monitor to function Pittsburgh’s Week 1 QB1 at none apart from the Jets on Sept. 7. If nothing else, each signal-callers ought to have loads to show at MetLife Stadium that Sunday afternoon.
