New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey pulled off the unthinkable.
He traded away quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason. The general consensus was that the Jets would be forced to eventually cut bait with Fields after a failed experiment last season.
Yet Mougey was able to save some money and acquire a future draft asset for a player that had no future with the team.
“Darren Mougey hanging onto Justin Fields long enough to drum up trade interest was an extremely smart move. Getting any draft pick back for him after the season he had is great GMing,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic posted.
“Justin Fields has a career win pct of .302. The only QBs since 1950 with at least 50 starts and a worse career win pct are Archie Manning (.259) and David Carr (.291), per ESPN Research. Good move for Mougey, getting a late ’27 pick and saving $3M in cash for a player who had no future with the Jets,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini wrote.
“Fields appeared to be checked out once he got benched last year. His career rehab continues in KC. If Andy Reid can’t fix him, it’s hopeless,” Cimini bluntly stated.
Good move for Mougey, getting a late ’27 pick and saving $3M in cash for a player who had no
“The Jets getting anything for Justin Fields is truly a surprise. Good job by, Darren Mougey,” ESPN radio host Jake Asman said.
Jets Save Money, Treasure Chest of Picks Increase
“NY takes on $19M of dead cap per the trade, including $7M of guaranteed salary. The move frees up $4M of cap space, while they pick up a late-round pick in lieu of an outright release,” Spotrac posted.
The green and white have nine total picks in the 2026 NFL draft:
- First round: No. 2 and No. 16 overall
- Second round: No. 33 and No. 44 overall
- Third round: n/a
- Fourth round: No. 103 and No. 140 overall
- Fifth round: No. 179 overall
- Sixth round: n/a
- Seventh round: No. 228 and No. 242 overall
In the 2027 NFL draft, the Jets have 10 total picks (per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter):
- First round: their own, the Indianapolis Colts, and whichever is higher between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers
- Second round: their own
- Third round: their own
- Fourth round: their own
- Fifth round: their own
- Sixth round: San Francisco 49ers, Chiefs, and the Philadelphia Eagles
- Seventh round: n/a
A Revenge Game Is on the Schedule
The Jets are scheduled to travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs in 2026.
“[Patrick Mahomes] is rehabbing after he had surgery in December to repair the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee,” ESPN’s Nate Taylor wrote.
While he is trying to be ready for Week 1, there is a chance he has to miss the first couple of games to start the 2026 season.
If that happens, Fields is in line to start in place of Mahomes.
The full 2026 NFL schedule won’t be released until the middle of May. That leaves the possibility open that the Jets could face off against their old quarterback if the schedule makers put this matchup early on the slate.
It could be a schedule full of revenge games once again in 2026 for the Jets.
Jets GM Darren Mougey Earns Massive Praise After Justin Fields Masterpiece