Ryan Fitzpatrick

Best Available NFL Free Agents: Offense

May 19th, 2016 at 11:30am CST by Dallas Robinson

The most high-profile free agent signings occurred more than two months ago, but as we near June there are still talented NFL free agents available on the open market. Most of these players (with a few exceptions) won’t command much guaranteed money, and given that we’ve passed the May 12 deadline, none will factor into the compensatory draft pick formula. Let’s take a look at the players who will try to find a home as training camp approaches:

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB: The most obvious destination for Fitzpatrick remains the Jets, who don’t intend to play second-round pick Christian Hackenberg immediately but, as of the draft, hadn’t had meaningful talks with Fitz’s camp in awhile. The 33-year-old Fitzpatrick has apparently told people he’d “rather not play football” in 2016 than accept New York’s current offer, though that seems like a negotiating ploy to get the Jets to put more than $7-8MM on the table. Gang Green holds all the leverage in this scenario, as the only other club that might have still been searching for a quarterback — the Broncos — is thought to have ended their hunt for another signal-caller after drafting Paxton Lynch last month.

2. Anquan Boldin, WR: Even as he ages, Boldin continues to post solid production — he’s managed at least 65 receptions in each of the past four years, averaging nearly 1,000 yards and five touchdowns during that time. And while the 49ers have not asked him to return in 2016, Boldin could be an option for a number of wide receiver-needy teams, as the Bengals, Steelers, Colts, Chiefs, and Giants could all make varying levels of sense for the veteran pass-catcher, especially given that he’s indicated he’d prefer to play for a contender. Boldin has taken just one free agent visit this offseason, but that team — Washington — is unlikely to still have interest given that it selected TCU wideout Josh Doctson in the first round of the draft.

3. Arian Foster, RB: There’s no question that Foster offers the highest upside of any free agent on this list, as he’s topped 1,200 yards rushing in every season that he’s remained even remotely healthy. But health, of course, has remained a hindrance throughout Foster’s career — in 2015 alone, Foster was slowed by a groin injury during camp before suffering a torn Achilles in in Week 7. The Dolphins met with Foster earlier this offseason and could still be a landing spot, while the Raiders, Eagles, and Chargers (especially if Melvin Gordon‘s recovery from microfracture surgery doesn’t go well) could be options.

4. Jahri Evans, G: Knee and ankle injuries limited Evans to 11 games in 2015, but like Foster, Evans is a solid contributor when he’s on the field, as he graded as the league’s No. 27 guard among 81 qualifiers last year, per Pro Football Focus. Entering his age-33 season, Evans might have to be willing to engage in a camp battle for a starting role, or even wait until a club suffers an injury along its offensive interior. But a team like the Broncos, who are currently projected to start sixth-round rookie Connor McGovern at right guard, could express interest.

5. Louis Vasquez, G: Vasquez isn’t quite the guard that Evans is, but he offers a vast amount of experience, as he played over 1,000 snaps in 2015 with Denver, and has started 101 games since entering the league in 2009. Not yet 30 years old, Vasquez could help a number of clubs at either guard position — he met with the Titans earlier this offseason, and depending on its assessment of Jeremiah Poutasi, Tennessee may still be interested. The Chiefs, having failed to replace Jeff Allen, could also make sense as a destination.

6. Andre Johnson, WR: After posting the worst full-season results of his career, Johnson was released by the Colts just one season into a three-year pact. Whether interested clubs will determine that Johnson was victimized by a lackluster 2015 Indianapolis (and largely Andrew Luck-less) offense — or instead conclude that Johnson is just about finished at age-34 — is an open question, but the 13-year veteran has indicated that he’d like to continue playing in 2016.

7. Will Beatty, T: Beatty is expected to be fully healthy this summer after missing the entire 2015 season with a torn pectoral muscle, but he reportedly won’t be returning to the Giants. It’s a little surprising that Beatty hasn’t yet found a home for 2016, but he shouldn’t have to wait much longer, as he’s clearly the best tackle available on the open market (his top competition is the likes of Jake Long and Mike Adams). I could see the Bears bringing in Beatty to compete with Charles Leno on the blindside, while the Cardinals could also be a feasible landing spot if they aren’t happy with D.J. Humphries — who didn’t play a single snap as a rookie — at right tackle.

8. James Jones, WR: Another season catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, another successful year for Jones, who returned to Green Bay after a year in Oakland to post 50 receptions for nearly 900 yards an eight touchdowns. Jones, now 32, has indicated that he’d like to play for awhile longer, though the Packers have reportedly moved on. After waiting until July of last year to sign with the Giants (and September to reunite with the Pack), Jones could again have to wait awhile to find a new team, but whoever signs him will be acquiring a big-play threat — in 2015, Jones ranked fourth in the league with 17.8 yards per reception.

9. Ryan Wendell, C/G: Perhaps the least recognizable name on this list, Wendell spent the last seven seasons as a utility interior lineman with the Patriots, and ended up starting 44 contests from 2012-2014. A knee injury prematurely ended Wendell’s 2015 season in November, and a March report stated that Wendell would wait until he returned to full health before signing with a new team. A return to New England can’t be ruled out, but a club like the Cardinals — who are currently projecting A.Q. Shipley to start at center — could also be on Wendell’s radar.

10. Owen Daniels, TE: Daniels has spent all ten of his NFL seasons under the tutelage of Gary Kubiak, following the coach from Houston to Baltimore and, finally, to Denver. That streak of loyalty is now in danger after the Broncos released Daniels earlier this year, though Kubiak did not rule out re-signing the veteran tight end (Denver has since signed fellow TE Garrett Graham, however). Even at age-33, Daniels performed in line with his career averages, posting 48 receptions for more than 500 yards and four touchdowns.

Honorable mention: Tarvaris Jackson, QB; Joique Bell, RB; Bryce Brown, RB; Marques Colston, WR; Brian Hartline, WR; Roddy White, WR; Khaled Holmes, C; Amini Silatolu, G.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Jets, Luck, Mebane, Hayne

May 17th, 2016 at 8:21pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Jets receiver Eric Decker told SiriusXM NFL on Tuesday afternoon that, right now, the Jets “have to move on without” free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. However, as a guest on NFL Total Access on Tuesday evening, he expressed confidence that the Jets and Fitzpatrick will ultimately get a deal done, writes Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.

“Something is going to happen. It might be before training camp, the day or two before, but I believe that he’ll be back on the team come this fall,” Decker said, though he did acknowledge that the two sides “are so far off” from each other when it comes to the quarterback’s dollar value.

In other NFL news…

It looks as if Colts quarterback Andrew Luck‘s injury-plagued 2015 campaign is behind him. The four-year veteran is participating in Colts workouts with “no limitations,” he said Tuesday (via Mike Wells of ESPN.com). After appearing in all of the Colts’ games during his first three seasons, Luck missed nine contests last year with injuries to his kidney, ribs and shoulder, and experienced a precipitous statistical decline while on the field. Now, Luck “looks really good,” according to head coach Chuck Pagano. As of late April, the Colts were focusing on an extension for Luck, whose deal expires at the end of the upcoming season. It’s likely a new contract for the 26-year-old would make him one of the league’s highest-paid players.
Chargers defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who signed with the Bolts in free agency, spoke effusively about the team’s defensive personnel Monday (per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune). “I was telling guys, there’s more talent on this defense than in Seattle. If you look at the draft, you’ve got four first-round draft picks. You’ve got five second-round draft picks, all total on defense. In Seattle, we only had two first rounders and one second rounder. Everybody else was pretty much down in the draft or undrafted.” Mebane is quite familiar with the Seahawks’ defense, of course, having spent the first nine years of his career in Seattle. Regardless of draft pedigree, however, the Seahawks has been among the NFL’s defensive elite over the past several years, whereas the Chargers’ stop unit was toward the bottom of the league in all notable categories last season. With Mebane and third overall pick Joey Bosa now aboard, at least some improvement should be in order this year.
Chip Kelly understood Jarryd Hayne‘s decision to retire in light of a potential Olympic rugby opportunity, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. On the subject of Hayne, the NFL’s drug-testing protocol may keep him out of the Olympics despite American football having no presence in the Games. Prospective Olympic athletes must be in a World Anti-Doping Agency-compliant pool for at least six months, Jamie Marcuson of the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The NFL does not fall under the WADA umbrella, and former Australian Anti-Doping Agency chief Richard Ings told Marcuson that Hayne has “no chance” of playing for his native Fiji this August as a result. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if Hayne’s exit strategy stemmed instead from the fact he didn’t have much of a chance to make the 49ers‘ 53-man roster.
Titans safety Rashad Johnson told SiriusXM (Twitter link) that the Cardinals expressed some interest in having him back, but did not make an offer.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

East Notes: Eagles, Jets, Washington

May 17th, 2016 at 7:28pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday that he has reached out to Fletcher Cox multiple times, but he hasn’t spoken with the defensive lineman (link via Josh Paunil of PhillyMag.com). Cox, who has one year left on his contract, has been absent from the Eagles’ voluntary May workouts. If the two-time second-team All-Pro misses the club’s mandatory three-day minicamp in June, it’ll cost him upward of $76K.

More from the NFL’s two East divisions:

Though Jets receiver Eric Decker doesn’t seem thrilled with the idea of life after Ryan Fitzpatrick, he acknowledged Tuesday that the team will have to make the best of it if the free agent quarterback doesn’t re-up with Gang Green. “All I can say is we have to move on without him right now because they are stuck where they are with the business decision, where they want to go with the money, who’s going to break,” Decker told SiriusXM NFL Radio (per ESPN’s Rich Cimini). Decker had one of his best seasons in his first (and only?) year with Fitzpatrick in 2015, catching 80 passes for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In holding out for a trade, Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford and agent Tom Condon made a rational business decision, opines Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Bradford’s Eagles teammates understand his point of view, which is why they haven’t attacked him for seeking a better opportunity elsewhere, adds Sielski. “A player can get cut before his contract is up. Teams have no loyalty necessarily to their players. So when players make moves, it’s all business,” said safety Malcolm Jenkins
Some members of the Washington organization are wondering if safety Kyshoen Jarrett‘s career is over, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Jarrett, a 2015 sixth-round pick, appeared in all 16 of the team’s games as a rookie, totaling 58 tackles and a forced fumble. He suffered nerve damage to his right shoulder and neck on a Week 17 hit, however, and still doesn’t have much feeling in his arm as a result. For now, the likelihood is that Jarrett will miss the upcoming season, Jones writes.

Sunday Roundup: Fitz, Amendola, Panthers

May 15th, 2016 at 12:49pm CST by Rory Parks

Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com believes that the Jets‘ willingness to wait until training camp to re-sign free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick–if the re-sign him at all–could backfire. After all, if there is no Fitzpatrick deal by late July and the Jets decide to move on, they will have wasted valuable time that could have been used to break in another veteran quarterback. And if the team completes its four weeks of offseason practices, which begin on May 24, with only Geno Smith, Bryce Petty, and Christian Hackenberg on the quarterback depth chart, Cimini says the Jets will have essentially handed the starting job to Smith, since Petty and Hackenberg are not ready to be starters and since another veteran signal-caller would not be able to arrive in New York in July and win the job by Week 1. Plus, Cimini says, even if Smith is arguably better than other veteran options that could be available, like Nick Foles and Josh McCown, Petty and Hackenberg are not even adequate backups at this point in their careers, so the team would still need to bring in someone else.

Now let’s take a look at some more links from around the league:

Earlier this month, Danny Amendola took a significant pay cut to remain with the Patriots. When weighing whether he should accept the pay cut or decline and perhaps try his luck on the open market, Amendola says one of the most significant factors impacting his decision to accept was the presence of the newly-signed Chris Long. Amendola and Long were teammates on the Rams from 2009-12, and Amendola said, “[Long]’s a great teammate and one of my best friends,” adding that it will be “a lot of fun” to share a locker room again with Long (link via Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com).
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has liked what he has seen thus far from the trio of cornerbacks that the team drafted last month–James Bradberry, Daryl Worley, and Zack Sanchez–and as Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer writes, Carolina is not currently in the market for cornerback help. Rivera did, however, leave open the possibility that the Panthers could add a veteran corner later in the summer.
In his latest mailbag, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com looks at a few undrafted free agents that have the best chance of cracking the Chargers‘ roster. Williams names Washington State receiver Dom Williams, Houston safety Adrian McDonald, and Navy fullback Chris Swain as three players with fairly good odds. Williams points out that four UDFAs made San Diego’s roster in 2015.

AFC Notes: Colts, Jets, Raiders

May 14th, 2016 at 9:44am CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the AFC…

Despite the Colts‘ apparent need for a pass rusher (and the team’s tendency to add players older than 30), ESPN.com’s Mike Wells can’t envision the team bringing in free agent Dwight Freeney. The 36-year-old spent 11 seasons with Indy, and he played last season with the Cardinals, where he compiled eight sacks.
The Colts don’t have much cornerback depth outside of Vontae Davis, Patrick Robinson and Darius Butler, writes Kevin Bowen of Colts.com. This could pave the way for an undrafted free agent to play a significant role on the team.
Regardless of how much money Ryan Fitzpatrick is seeking, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes that the Jets will have to clear some cap room to retain the quarterback. The writer notes that the team could take several routes, like restructuring Eric Decker or Buster Skrine‘s contracts.
Raiders first-round pick Karl Joseph had to watch from the sideline during his team’s rookie minicamp this past week as he recovers from a torn ACL. While the organization is confident that the safety will be ready for the regular season, Joseph is frustrated that he can’t participate with his teammates. “It’s tough, just not being able to go out there and practice and learn the stuff, but I am still learning in meeting rooms,” Joseph told Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. “Right now, I am just focusing on rehabbing and getting healthy.”

AFC Notes: Fitzpatrick, Conklin, Wake, Texans

May 11th, 2016 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

Several Jets players – two current and one former – have weighed in on the Ryan Fitzpatrick situation this week, including wide receivers Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall. As Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes, Decker continues to believe Fitzpatrick is the right man for the starting job in New York, suggesting that Gang Green is “a team that’s ready to win now,” and one that requires a “veteran presence” at the QB position.

Marshall, on the other hand, sounds more willing to accept the possibility that Fitzpatrick may not be back, telling Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post that the Jets would survive with Bryce Petty or Geno Smith at QB: “Just seeing Bryce and Geno grow so much the last year is really encouraging, and I’m just proud of those guys. We’ll be OK.”

Meanwhile, former Jets linebacker Bart Scott has been less tactful about his opinion on the matter, as Brian Costello of the New York Post details. During an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Scott said that Fitzpatrick isn’t worth the money he’s seeking, suggesting he’s more of “a bridge guy,” who would be a backup for “20 teams in the league.”

As we wait to see whether the Fitzpatrick situation reaches a resolution in the near future, let’s round up some other Wednesday morning notes from around the AFC…

While new Titans general manager Jon Robinson may get his team’s draft class secured in a more timely manner than the team has done in the past, Tennessee’s negotiations with first-round tackle Jack Conklin are worth watching, writes Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. In recent years, the Titans have pushed for offset language to be included in their first-rounders’ rookie contracts, and there are indications that trend will continue, according to McCormick.
Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake took a pay cut from $8.4MM to $7.125MM for 2016, but can make up the difference if he reaches certain sack incentives, says Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links). For 2017, Wake has another $7MM due, including $3MM fully guaranteed — he can also earn an extra $2MM in ’17 if he racks up 15 sacks this season, per Pelissero.
Peter King of TheMMQB.com takes a look at the Texans‘ approach to free agency and the draft within the last couple months, writing that the team has made it a priority to add speed to its offense. In King’s view, Houston’s offense rivals Jacksonville’s defense when it comes to teams that underwent the most significant changes on one side of the ball.

Extra Points: Fitzpatrick, Panthers, Manning

May 9th, 2016 at 8:55pm CST by Luke Adams

As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk observes, some free agents who haven’t received a ton of interest in recent weeks may see their markets pick up after this Thursday. May 12th will be the first day that free agents no longer count toward the compensatory draft pick formula for 2017, meaning teams can sign veteran players without worrying about potentially losing draft picks next spring.

Of course, players who were released earlier in the offseason never counted toward that comp-pick formula, so guys who fit that bill, such as Roddy White, Antonio Cromartie, and Chris Culliver, won’t be affected. But for someone like Ryan Fitzpatrick, who simple saw his contract expire back in March, it could make a difference — teams could be more willing to make a solid offer if they know it won’t affect their 2017 draft plans.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Earlier today, a report indicated that the Panthers and standout defensive tackle Kawann Short had begun discussing a contract extension. David Newton of ESPN.com explores what such a deal might be worth, reaching the same conclusion we did: Carolina won’t offer an Ndamukong Suh-type contract, but something that puts him in the second tier of highest-paid DTs wouldn’t be unreasonable.
Peyton Manning paid a visit to the Dolphins this offseason, but it wasn’t as a free agent. As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald details, Manning was in Miami to meet with his former offensive coordinator, Adam Gase, as well as Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and explained some of the nuances of Gase’s offense to Tannehill. “It was really cool just to be able to sit and pick his brain about things he’s done in this offense and football things in general: snap counts, things you like, the way you want guys to run routes, little details about the game,” Tannehill said. “We really just got to talk the game, which is something we both love.”
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam continues to be tied up in civil lawsuits filed against Pilot Flying J, a truck-stop chain owned by him and his brother. An Associated Press report (link via Ohio.com) provides the latest details on Haslam, who has agreed to be deposed “under specific conditions.”
The Bears have promoted Mark Sadowski to director of college scouting, replacing Joe Douglas who is leaving for Philadelphia, Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Draft Rumors: Jets, Cravens, Pats, Ravens

April 29th, 2016 at 10:36pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Jets’ second-round selection of Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg won’t affect their pursuit of free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick, general manager Mike Maccagnan said Friday (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post). Maccagnan added that he wouldn’t rule out carrying four QBs if the team does re-sign Fitzpatrick, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Fitzpatrick, who reportedly hasn’t had meaningful contract discussions with the Jets in weeks, would be at the helm of a signal-calling corps that also includes Hackenberg, Geno Smith and Bryce Petty.

Here’s the latest on the draft with the second day in the books:

USC linebacker Su’a Cravens said he was surprised to end up with Washington, which took him 53rd overall. He expected to land with the Patriots, who picked 60th (Twitter link via Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic).
The Ravens tried unsuccessfully to get back into the second round after selecting Boise State edge defender Kamalei Correa at No. 42, GM Ozzie Newsome told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
Had the Giants not taken Boise State safety Darian Thompson with the 71st pick, the Bears would’ve scooped him up at No. 72, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (on Twitter).
The Eagles considered moving back from 79th overall – where they selected Oregon State center Isaac Seumalo – but they became uncomfortable as names were sliding off the board and decided to stay put, reports Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).

Latest On Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick

April 29th, 2016 at 8:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Jets used a second-round pick on Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg on Friday, but they don’t plan on throwing him into the fire as a rookie. Instead, their goal is to sit Hackenberg next season and break him into the NFL slowly, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Rapoport expects the Jets to bring back veteran free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick on a one-year deal, though the two sides haven’t had meaningful contract talks in weeks, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link).

Fitzpatrick and the Jets have been at an impasse since the signal-caller’s contract expired last month. Per an ESPN.com report Thursday, the Jets’ offer to Fitzpatrick remains in the $7MM to 8MM annual range, while the veteran signal-caller is believed to be seeking upward of twice that amount.

At least one report has suggested that the Jets’ offer to Fitzpatrick is similar to the deal the Eagles gave Chase Daniel, which was worth $21MM over three years, but included another $15MM in incentives. However, on the heels of a career season in which he threw 31 touchdowns and helped the Jets to a 10-6 record, it appears Fitzpatrick wants New York to make an offer less reliant on incentives and heavier on base value.

If the Jets and Fitzpatrick aren’t able to find common ground, the second-best option available in free agency is Brian Hoyer. While Hoyer visited with the Jets earlier this month after the Texans released him, New York reportedly isn’t one of the teams that has made him an offer. The Steelers, Cowboys and Bears are pushing for his services, and he’s likely to make a decision on his future soon.

Latest On Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets

April 28th, 2016 at 3:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick remains unsigned, and with the veteran free agent and the Jets still engaged in a stand-off, Fitzpatrick has told people he would “rather not play football” than accept the Jets’ current offer, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Although Schefter’s report makes it sound as though Fitzpatrick would consider sitting out the 2016 season if he doesn’t get a satisfactory contract offer, Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link) spoke to a source who says that’s not the case. According to Costello’s source, Fitzpatrick definitely wants to play.

Per the ESPN.com report, the Jets’ offer to Fitzpatrick remains in the $7-8MM-per-year range, while the veteran signal-caller is believed to be seeking upwards of twice that amount. At least one report has suggested that the Jets’ offer to Fitzpatrick is similar to the deal the Eagles gave Chase Daniel, which was worth $21MM over three years, but included another $15MM in incentives. However, it sounds as if Fitzpatrick wants New York to increase the base value of its offer, rather than counting on incentives that may not be met.

An 11-year veteran, Fitzpatrick is coming off the best season of his NFL career. The former seventh-round pick established new career highs by throwing for 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns, and led the Jets to a 10-6 record, just narrowly missing a playoff berth.

With the Jets and Fitzpatrick apparently not making any progress, the club continues to mull its fallback options as the draft approaches. Although Fitzpatrick is the priority, the Jets recently brought in Brian Hoyer for a visit, and could use the draft to address the quarterback position. We should have a better idea in another 48 to 72 hours about where the team’s quarterback situation stands.

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