On a warm May morning in Florham Park, a familiar sound echoed off the practice field—Justin Fields’ cadence under center, sharp and confident. But beneath that rhythm? Unease. Not from Fields, who’s treating this like his long-awaited breakout, but from a franchise stuck between dreams of redemption and whispers of a 2026 reset. Inside the Jets’ war room during the draft, they had chances—Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart (who ended up at MetLife anyway), Jalen Milroe, others. They passed on them all. No quarterbacks. Not one. Just an unmistakable message: ‘Prove it.’ Now, with Aaron Glenn at the helm and an offense being subtly retooled around Fields, the question isn’t if he’s the future. It’s how long until they decide he’s not.

“They don’t pay bad players that type of money,” rookie tight end Mason Taylor said, referring to Justin Fields’ 2-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. The LSU product couldn’t stop praising Fields, calling him “a really good quarterback.” It’s a sentiment quietly shared throughout the Jets camp—hope that Fields can finally change their playoff fortunes. Since 2010, the team has made just one postseason appearance. Head coach Aaron Glenn is doing his part to signal confidence. He’s declared Fields as the starter, with Tyrod Taylor slotted as the backup. But the bigger picture is more nuanced.

The Jets’ 2025 draft class speaks volumes. Three of their seven picks targeted offensive talent: Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou (1st round, 7th overall), LSU tight end Mason Taylor (2nd round, 35th overall), and Georgia speedster Arian Smith (4th round, 110th overall). Notably, no quarterback was drafted.

This absence suggests a clear plan: the Jets are going all-in on Justin Fields—for now. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the franchise wants to give Fields one full season to prove himself. If he falters, the team is eyeing the quarterback-loaded 2026 draft class for a potential reset. “A $30M guarantee … three draft picks on offense … no QB picks. The #Jets want Justin Fields to be more than a post-Rodgers transition QB. And if it doesn’t work … a loaded QB draft in ‘26,” Cimini wrote on May 3.

While the Jets didn’t pursue a signal caller in the draft, they did add Missouri quarterback Brady Cook as an undrafted free agent—a subtle move that reinforces their current, even if time-framed, confidence in Fields. HC Aaron Glenn doubled down on this direction, stating, “We want to surround Justin with good skill players, along with a good offensive line. So anytime you can do that within any offense, with any quarterback, man, that’s an A-plus. That’s the plan. Let him be a quarterback and surround him with good players.”

But the offensive focus isn’t the only shift happening. The Jets are also recalibrating their defense to match Glenn’s vision for a rugged, resilient team.

Aaron Glenn signs a beast in defense

This marks Aaron Glenn’s third stint with the Jets—first as a player (1994–2001), then as a scout (2012–2013), and now, as head coach. With expectations sky-high, Glenn is building a roster that can compete in the trenches, starting with a familiar face.

To bolster their defensive interior, the Jets signed Folorunso “Foley” Fatukasi—a 6-foot-4, 318-pound defensive tackle with seven years of NFL experience. Originally drafted by the Jets in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2018 Draft, Fatukasi returns after stints with the Jaguars and Texans. In 2022, he signed a 3-year, $30 million deal with Jacksonville before moving to Houston in 2024. He most recently inked a 1-year, $5.1 million contract.

His return isn’t just sentimental—it’s strategic. Fatukasi is known for his run-stuffing ability, with 86 career games (63 starts), 187 tackles (106 solo), 5.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, and one forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned an 86.2 run defense grade in 2020, ranking among the league’s top defensive tackles. Glenn is betting on that toughness to help anchor the defense.

Between reshaping the offensive cast around Fields and reinvesting in the defensive front, the Jets are making clear, calculated moves. But the clock is ticking. Will Justin Fields seize this opportunity, or will New York be browsing quarterback résumés again next spring? Only time—and wins—will tell.