https://sports.yahoo.com/article/jets-remain-interested-qb-justin-010500875.html
Free agency is still days away, but the NFL roster moves have already kicked into high gear as the Pittsburgh Steelers landed wide receiver DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
What does this have to do with the Jets?
Well, New York remains interested in quarterback Justin Fields, who is a free agent after one year in Pittsburgh, SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes noted on Sunday. With the addition of the two-time Pro Bowl WR – who reportedly agreed to a five-year, $150 million deal with the Steelers – remaining in the Steel City is now a bit more attractive.
Hughes added that he would then expect the Jets to “turn their attention” to Marcus Mariota and Carson Wentz.
Mariota, 31, played last season with the Washington Commanders and saw some action in place of rookie Jayden Daniels. Over three games, Mariota threw for 364 yards (8.3 yards per attempt) on 34-for-44 passing (77.3 percent) with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. The bulk of that action came in a blowout win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 7 and a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and former No. 2 overall pick has played 10 seasons in the NFL, but he has mainly served as a backup in recent years. Mariota was a starter just once over the past five seasons (2022 with Atlanta). During his lone year with the Falcons, he lost his starting role after 13 weeks of inconsistent play, with Atlanta going 5-8 in those games.
Mariota’s teams went 34-40 in games he started and he has one playoff victory to his name, a 2017 Wild Card round win over the Chiefs, 22-21. In that game, he notably threw a touchdown to himself in the third quarter sparking a comeback from down 21-3 at the half.
Wentz, 32, spent last year backing up Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City and made just one start – a Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos. He threw for 98 yards on 10-for-17 passing in the game. Also a former No. 2 overall pick, Wentz was last a full-time start in Washington during 2022, playing eight games (seven starts) in a season that was shortened by injuries and ineffectual play.
During his single season with the Commanders, he threw for 1,755 yards (6.4 per attempt) on 172-for-276 passing (62.3 percent) with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Washington went 2-5 in games he started.
Wentz’s teams have a 47-46-1 record with him as the starter, buoyed by an 11-2 start in his second year with Philadelphia and a pair of nine-win seasons, one with the Eagles in 2019 and one with Indianapolis in 2021.
The “legal tampering” period, which begins on Monday at noon, represents the unofficial start of NFL free agency, as clubs can begin negotiating with players and their representatives, but contracts can’t be officially signed until the start of the new league year on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/jets-remain-interested-qb-justin-010500875.html
