Jets general manager Darren Mougey believes that Justin Fields can be the latest highly drafted quarterback to find success later in his career, like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold have done recently.
“I do believe Justin can be one of those guys,” Mougey said Thursday. “I’ve seen the progress in this camp and look forward to seeing the progress throughout the season as they all come together. Obviously, it’s his third stop in three years with three different coordinators and a lot of moving parts so it does take time. But I like where it’s at and I look forward to watching the progress.”
Mougey said he has seen Fields improve in several areas but mainly in his command of the offense.
“I’ve seen him improve every day and specifically this past week we’ve really seen good rhythm out at practice with the offense — a balanced attack, some run, some pass,” Mougey said. “But just the overall operation, his command, his leadership. … Seeing that growth has been really good.”
The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason. Fields spent last year with the Steelers after three years with the Bears, who selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Jets named their team captains on Thursday. They selected Fields, WR Garrett Wilson, RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, DT Quinnen Williams, LB Jamien Sherwood and special teamer Marcelino McCrary-Ball.
Williams is the only player who was a captain last year.
Player personnel director Robbie Paton expressed optimism that rookie WR Arian Smith can contribute immediately.
“Really, really excited about this player from OTAs to training camp and into the preseason, you’ve seen him just get better and better and better,” Paton said. “He’s really going to feel like a guy that’s going to make an impact early in the season for us at receiver, giving us that explosive, take the top off element on offense.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
