Getty
New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey speaking at the 2026 NFL Combine.
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.
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. https://t.co/mmWWbP5t3r
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) March 16, 2026
“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.
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
“The Jets getting anything for Justin Fields is truly a surprise. Good job by, Darren Mougey,” ESPN radio host Jake Asman said.
The Jets getting anything for Justin Fields is truly a surprise. Good job by, Darren Mougey.
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.
#NFL TRADE
#Chiefs Acquire
QB Justin Fields: $3M (gtd)
#Jets Acquire
2027 6th-Rd Pick
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.
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):
Jets’ draft picks in the anticipated 2027 NFL Draft:
1st – own1st – Colts1st – Cowboys or Packers (whichever is higher)2nd – own3rd – own4th – own5th – own6th – 49ers*6th – Chiefs*6th – Eagles*
*The 6th round picks have conditions. https://t.co/f7ffXP9rDq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2026
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.
Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.
More Heavy on Jets
Loading more stories