New York Jets are backed into corner with Ryan Fitzpatrick situation
The New York Jets have no choice. They need to sign Ryan Fitzpatrick.
New York traded a seventh-round choice to the Houston Texans for Fitzpatrick last offseason, and got everything it could have hoped for. The journeyman who played for three teams over the previous three seasons had a career year, throwing for 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns. Both are career-highs for the Bearded One.
Yet this offseason, Fitzpatrick and Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan can’t come to terms. Fitzpatrick wants to be paid like Sam Bradford (two years and $35 million) while Maccagnan wants him to play for Robert Griffin III money (two years and $15 million).
While the quarterback market is inflated, it has also spoken. Nobody is paying Fitzpatrick like Kirk Cousins or Bradford. Part of the reasoning is Fitzpatrick’s age – he turns 34 in November – and his career statistics. Prior to 2015, Fitzpatrick was a quality backup and a lousy starter who was prone to turnovers and poor decisions.
On the surface, Maccagnan seems wise to let Fitzpatrick go. He likely got the best year of his football life and now can move on, turning the keys over to second-round pick Christian Hackenberg or veteran disappointment, Geno Smith.
Unfortunately for Maccagnan, two of his best players aren’t buying into that plan. Receivers Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall both stayed away from voluntary OTAs this week, showcasing support for Fitzpatrick. They are demanding the Jets and their quarterback find common ground, something the two sides haven’t been able to do for months.
Decker and Marshall have ample reason to showcase solidarity. The duo combined for 26 touchdowns, the most of any pair in the NFL. Both went for more than 1,000 receiving yards and the Jets won 10 games, the most since they reached the AFC Championship Game in 2010.
New York has another problem, though. It has little cap space to work with. The Jets only have more space than the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, sitting at $3.1 million. Maccagnan would likely have to clear a little room to bring Fitzpatrick back into the fold, but he has options.
The Jets can cut guard Brian Winters after June 1 and save $1.67 million against the cap, or get a large chunk by releasing guard Breno Giacomini, saving $5 million. Both would be a hit to the depth of the offensive line, but currently both are protecting quarterbacks who will likely drive the Jets to a sub-.500 finish.
Fitzpatrick and Maccagnan need to swallow hard and come to a conclusion. The best pacts are ones that hurt a bit for both sides, and something to the tune of two years and $22 million with $15 million in guarantees should work. The Jets could structure the deal to include a lower cap hit this season – perhaps around $4-5 million with a larger hit in 2017.
In this instance, Fitzpatrick would get a solid deal with good guarantees, the Jets would contend for a playoff berth and Hackenberg can learn for a year or two behind a veteran.
New York wins on multiple fronts. It’s star receivers are happy, Fitzpatrick is in tow and its future quarterback isn’t hurried into a bad situation.
The time has come to strike a deal.