New York Jets trade Justin Fields to Chiefs for 2027 draft pick

Justin Fields has a new home.

The New York Jets have agreed to trade the quarterback to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to multiple reports. The Chiefs are sending a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Jets in exchange for the quarterback, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Jets are eating a large portion of Fields' salary to help facilitate the trade, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.

It's a move that will add some insurance behind Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season.

Fields figures to be the backup long-term, but could find himself thrust into the starting spot for the time being with Mahomes sidelined.

It isn't guaranteed that the star will be ready in time for Week 1 and Fields brings plenty of starting experience. Fields has started 53 games in five seasons since being selected by the Chicago Bears with the No. 11 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has a 16-37 record in those games, throwing 52 touchdowns to 32 interceptions, adding 2,892 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns with his legs.

From a Jets standpoint, there was simply no more room for Fields to start after the team acquired Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders. New York signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal last offseason in the hopes that a change of scenery would allow the quarterback to reach his potential.

Instead, Fields struggled and started just nine games for Aaron Glenn's team. He'll now move on to Kansas City, where he can learn from arguably the best quarterback in the league.

Here's a look at what the Jets got in exchange for Fields.

Justin Fields trade details

Chiefs receive

• QB Justin Fields

Jets receive

• 2027 sixth-round pick

Chiefs QB depth chart

• Patrick Mahomes
• Justin Fields
• Chris Oladokun
• Jake Haener

Fields will slide in as the backup to Mahomes, giving Kansas City an insurance option behind its QB1. Things unraveled quickly for the Chiefs in 2025 after the star quarterback went down with an injury.

Gardner Minshew, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency, served as the backup in 2025 before suffering an injury of his own, leading to a pair of starts from Oladokun. While surviving a Mahomes injury is essentially impossible for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, those games highlighted just how big the drop-off can be.

Fields hasn't been the most consistent quarterback during his career, but there is no denying that he can provide a boost – at least with his legs.

Given his mobility, it isn't out of the question that the Chiefs could employ Fields in certain packages even when Mahomes is on the field. Reid has proven to be one of the more creative minds in the league, meaning nothing is out of the question with Fields in the fold.

Jets QB depth chart

• Geno Smith
• Brady Cook
• Bailey Zappe

The Jets quarterback room is far from glamorous, but Smith does come with some bounce-back potential in 2026. He is just one season removed from throwing for 4,300 yards with the Seattle Seahawks. It's no secret that Smith struggled mightily in 2025, but so did everyone with the Raiders.

New York is betting on that season being the exception for Smith.

As currently constructed, Cook and Zappe are the only two remaining quarterback options for Glenn's team. Cook went 0-4 as a starter in 2025 as the undrafted free agent struggled in his first NFL action.

There's a chance that the Jets add to this room during the 2026 NFL Draft.

Justin Fields contract details

The Chiefs will pay Fields $3 million of the $10 million he has guaranteed in 2026 and the Jets will take on the rest, according to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero.

New York takes on a $19 million cap hit with the trade, according to OverTheCap.

Fields is entering the final year of a two-year, $40 million contract that he signed with the Jets in March 2025.

This story has been updated.