Ryan Fitzpatrick seemed to secure a starting spot with the New York Jets if he wants to re-sign, but the franchise will consider selecting a quarterback during the 2016 NFL draft.
According to Zach Schonbrun of the New York Times, general manager Mike Maccagnan said the Jets would “very much like” Fitzpatrick to return but will keep their options open.
“It’s such an important position, I think every NFL team, with maybe a few exceptions, goes into the draft looking at that position as a position of interest. We’re no different.”
Fitzpatrick put together a respectable 2015 campaign, tallying a career-best 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns. Plenty of NFL teams would’ve loved to have Fitzpatrick under center.
But he’s not a terrific long-term option. The 33-year-old has never guided his team to the postseason. Fitzpatrick fell a tiebreaker shy of the playoffs in 2015, partly because he finished 16-of-37 with three interceptions during a loss to the Buffalo Bills in the regular-season finale.
Now, Fitzpatrick is probably the best choice for New York in 2016 and likely 2017 because Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are both signed through that season. The duo accounted for 52.2, 60.6 and 78.8 percent of the team’s receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns, respectively.
The Jets should have someone ready to replace Fitzpatrick by then, though. Geno Smith might not be the guy, and Bryce Petty must learning a complex NFL system compared to the simplistic scheme he ran at Baylor.
New York holds the No. 20 overall pick, which is an ideal spot if the right quarterback falls. Paxton Lynch, Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Connor Cook are widely considered the top prospects available but probably aren’t Day 1 starters anywhere in the league.
Granted, the pressure for the miracle-working gunslinger is high. The Cleveland Browns might take one early, while teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints could draft a quarterback to sit on the bench and develop.
Other franchises could make the decision easy on the Jets, who don’t need a quarterback and might need to address the defensive line if free agency doesn’t go their way. But if the right quarterback is available, New York will have a tough decision at No. 20.