The New York Jets are invested in starting quarterback Justin Fields. New general manager Darren Mougey signed Fields to a two-year contract in free agency worth $40 million. The expectation is that he’ll be the team’s QB for the entire 2025 campaign.

This likely represents Fields’ final opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate NFL starter. He failed to seize his moments in Chicago and Pittsburgh. One media publication is expecting Fields to flame out in East Rutherford as well.

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Bleacher Report recently released their early bold predictions for the 2025 NFL trade deadline. They have the Jets executing an absolute stunner by acquiring veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons.

“If by midseason, sophomore Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has established himself as the clear-cut guy under center there, the team could more comfortably field offers for Kirk Cousins,” Brad Gagnon wrote. “Since it’s impossible to speculate on injuries, though, let’s instead throw out a Jets team that has a considerable amount of salary-cap space and could well give up on Justin Fields by November.”

Gagnon believes one keynote connection to Cousins could make the Jets players for the aging quarterback.

“The Jets also employ senior football advisor Rick Spielman, who is connected to Cousins from their shared time in Minnesota. If the increasingly desperate Jets are competitive in spite of Fields at that stage, dealing for an established veteran from the NFC could make some sense.”

Cousins has been attempting to force his exit from Atlanta all offseason long. The Falcons have held steady. An injury or underperforming midseason quarterback could eventually see the Falcons receive an offer they deem too fruitful to decline.

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If the Jets acquired Cousins in November, that’d indicate they remain in postseason contention. It’s difficult to imagine that projection meeting reality if they’re simultaneously prepared to bench Fields. Fields should remain the Jets’ starting quarterback for the duration of the 2025 season.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets predicted to make blockbuster deal at NFL trade deadline