Justin Fields contract details: Jets ink QB to lucrative two-year deal
The New York Jets decided early in the offseason they were moving on from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers after a disappointing two-season partnership.
The Jets landed their replacement for Rodgers in the early hours of NFL free agency: former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields posted his most efficient season to date with the Steelers in 2024 despite starting just six games. He completed a career-high 65.8% of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and an interception during the season while adding 289 yards and five touchdowns on 62 carries.
New Jets coach Aaron Glenn faced Fields often when both were in the NFC North. Fields often ran roughshod over the Detroit Lions defense while with the Chicago Bears, which may have played a factor in New York's decision to sign the potential-packed quarterback to a lucrative contract.
Here's what to know about Fields' deal with the Jets and how it compares to those of his peers.
Justin Fields contract details
Fields signed a two-year deal with the Jets worth up to $40 million. Below are the full details of Fields' contract, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:
- Term: 2 years
- Total value: $40 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $20 million
- Guaranteed money: $30 million
Fields' $20 million in average annual ranks just 21th in the NFL for 2025, per OverTheCap.com, when including Sam Darnold's three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Fields will move up to 20th if and when the Jets release Rodgers, but still, they will be paying far less in AAV to Fields than Rodgers ($37.5 million).
The total value of Fields' contract will also rank 21st in the NFL, though that could change if a quarterback like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders goes with one of the first two picks in the 2025 NFL draft. The No. 1 pick is set to make just over $43 million over his deal in 2025 while the second pick will make $41.4 million, per Spotrac.com.
The No. 3 overall pick will only make $39.9 million, however, so Fields doesn't figure to move too far off his 21st rank in total contract value.