NFL
By: Ryan Cooley
The Washington Football Team signed veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to a one-year deal worth $10 million. Washington was desperate for a quarterback after releasing Alex Smith. Before this, Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke were the only quarterbacks on the roster. Rivera and company knew they needed to make a move.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has played well the past couple of years, having a grade of 75+ from Pro Football Focus the last three seasons. His best season came in 2018 when he managed a grade of 83.9. The one area of concern is Fitzpatrick’s inconsistency and gun-slinging mentality. While he will make astounding plays, he will also frustrate coaches when he throws an ugly interception at an inopportune time. One thing for sure is fans won’t be able to sit down while Fitzpatrick is under center.
Here are four takeaways from the Fitzpatrick signing.
Limited Options
Many fans were hoping for the quarterback issue to be resolved this offseason. While that would have been ideal, it is much easier said than done. One issue is the lack of options. The only high-end quarterbacks that have a chance to switch uniforms are Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson. However, Seattle and Houston don’t seem interested in letting them go. Even if they did, the price would be astronomical. The Bears offered Seattle three first-round picks, a third-round pick, and two starters. Seattle said no. Watson’s price would be higher since he is seven years younger.
The free-agent market only consisted of Prescott (resigned with Dallas), Fitzpatrick, Winston (resigned with the Saints), Trubisky, Dalton, Newton (resigned with New England), and Tyrod Taylor. Of the ones who didn’t resign, Fitzpatrick was probably the best option. Washington also sits at 19th in the draft, which is not ideal when drafting a quarterback.
Not Guaranteed to Start
One important note is that Fitzpatrick isn’t guaranteed to be the starter. No doubt he will be the heavy favorite, but Rivera told Heinicke he would be able to compete before he signed his two-year extension. If he plays as he did in the playoff game, it’s hard to imagine Rivera keeps him on the bench. Some reports say Washington might still trade for Sam Darnold if the price is right.
After the season, Rivera admitted to making a mistake by not having an open quarterback competition in training camp. He won’t make the same mistake twice. It would be nice to have a quarterback that was the unquestioned starter, but that luxury will have to wait a little longer.
Drafting a Quarterback Is Still in Play
As I mentioned, sitting at 19 is not ideal for drafting a quarterback. However, Washington could still trade up if a quarterback begins to fall. Justin Fields, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones would be the most likely candidates. Fitzpatrick is not the long-term solution, and Rivera knows that a franchise quarterback is essential to having sustained success.
If the wide receiver and linebacker positions are addressed in free agency, Washington won’t have many holes, so trading up for a signal-caller could be in play. The media is low on Mac Jones because he doesn’t run a 4.5 40 and can’t throw the ball 80 yards. However, he is extremely accurate and led Alabama to National Championship. His 95.8 grade was even higher than Joe Burrow’s 2019 season (94.9). He is a prospect Washington fans should keep an eye on in the next month.
He Takes Smith’s Veteran Role
Alex Smith may not have been a dominant force on the field, but his presence in the locker room helped more than people realized. It is crucial to have a veteran guy younger teammates can look up to. Fitzpatrick will step into that role. The 38-year old journeyman quarterback has seen and done it all. Washington is a very young team and needs a veteran.
I expect Fitzpatrick to have a more significant impact on the field than Smith while maintaining that leadership role in the locker room. Most players who had Fitzpatrick as their teammate raved about how great a guy he was to the team.
Overall, don’t be surprised if Washington is still looking to add another quarterback. Fitzpatrick is not the long-term answer, and it would make sense for them to trade up and take a swing on a quarterback they like in the draft.
