Justin Fields’ 2-year $40 million contract with the New York Jets takes another turn after the quarterback was benched for Taylor midway through a Week 7 defeat against the Carolina Panthers. Now, just a month after owner Woody Johnson’s criticism of “If we could just complete a pass,” and “obviously not a good owner in terms of winning,” and with seven games remaining, a new wave of midseason mock drafts for the 2026 regular season adds uncertainty about his future in New York.

During a recent NFL on ESPN episode, Mike Greenberg and Field Yates made a bold call. They projected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson to land with the New York Jets at No. 3 overall.

“Rich Cimini tweets, ‘Jets at Saints December 21st will have major draft ramifications.’ Yes, it certainly will. As we speak right now, the Jets will line up to pick third,” Greenberg said. “And so, with the third pick in the 2026 first draft mid-season mini mock field, the New York Jets select Ty Simpson.”

Their prediction adds a bold twist to New York’s quarterback future and not without good reason. Simpson, now Alabama’s full-time starter, has delivered strong numbers. He completed 226 of 338 passes for 2,787 yards, threw 22 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions, and posted a 156.4 passer rating this season.

Even draft analysts see his upside. Matt Miller of ESPN noted that “Simpson’s inexperience will need to be vetted by scouts, but his instincts and processing are starter-level.”

“It’s time to go down to the Tuscaloosa pipeline once more as the Jets are taking Ty Simpson, quarterback from Alabama,” Yates said.

The hypothetical Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback pick carries historical weight. The Jets’ most iconic quarterback has been Joe “Broadway Joe” Namath, who was drafted out of Alabama in 1965. During his 12-year journey with the Jets, Joe William Namath recorded 173 touchdowns for 27,663 yards.

For Justin Fields, currently benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor, the projection raises red flags. If the front office already wants a rookie quarterback, Fields’ outlook worsens. And so far, Tyrod Taylor hasn’t produced a single Jets win.

Jets’ QB swap fails: Fields and Taylor both come up short

Justin Fields lost the starting role in Week 11 after nine starts. Tyrod Taylor stepped in. But neither quarterback has produced consistent wins for the Jets.

“The Jets (2-8) will have two lame-duck quarterbacks for the remainder of the season,” Rich Cimini wrote on The Sports Network about the move.

Fields ended his stint with 1,259 passing yards, a 62.7% completion rate, seven touchdowns, and just one interception. His ground game showed flashes, 383 rushing yards and four rushing TDs, but the Jets’ passing offense swooped to a league-low 139.9 yards per game.  

Taylor took over as the starter and made three starts. His performances failed to provide the spark the head coach wanted. He completed 43 passes of 69 attempts for 379 yards. But he took 9 sacks and threw 3 interceptions. Through both quarterbacks, the Jets are just 2–8.

That record marks the New York Jets as the fourth-worst winning percentage in the NFL with a 173-238 record (.421). At the same time, owner Woody Johnson is the only owner graded ‘F’ by the NFLPA (NFL Players Association) in 2025.

If we see the long-term picture, though Fields’ 2026 contract is covered, the performance isn’t feeling like he can sustain. And as for Taylor, he will be a free agent next year. This is why the chances of Jets are high to start over.

All in all, due to all this chaos, the Jets’ postseason hopes are unlikely. ESPN projects its playoff probability to be just 0.1%. With the quarterbacks struggling and ownership under fire, New York’s 2025 season feels like a rebuild, not a breakout run.