After an extremely busy first day of free agency where the Denver Broncos lost out on quarterback Brock Osweiler to the Houston Texans, rumors are heating up regarding who is going to be the next signal caller in Denver. While numerous names including Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick are being reported as potential candidates, the best choice for the Broncos may be 33-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick.
As reported by the Inquisitr , there is still a great chance that the Broncos trade for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. While Kaepernick had a lot of success in the earlier parts of his career, he has regressed in a variety of ways since his NFC Championship game appearance against the Seattle Seahawks. Defenses are now better prepared to handle Kaepernick’s mobility, and he has proven that he is not strong at reading defenses. Kaepernick is a sexy name, but he is really not a great fit for what the Broncos need at quarterback.
Who will start at quarterback for the Broncos in 2016? #Kaepernick #RGIII #Fitzpatrick #2016DraftPick pic.twitter.com/xY72CPSOcg
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 10, 2016
As Yahoo Sports reports, the New York Jets and Fitzpatrick are not close to coming to an agreement on a new contract.
“Even though Ryan Fitzpatrick was slated to be a free agent, for the first part of the offseason it seemed inevitable he’d be back with the New York Jets. Then time passed. And more time passed. There was no agreement. And here we are, on day two of NFL free agency, and not only is Fitzpatrick not a Jet, there’s a report that there’s no deal in sight.”
While Fitzpatrick is often viewed as a journeyman, he had a great year for the Jets in 2015. In 16 games, he threw for 3,905 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Even if he cannot replicate those numbers in 2016, he is exactly what the Broncos need. With one of the strongest defenses in the league, Denver needs a quarterback who knows how to properly manage the game. Throwing a rookie into the starting lineup would be a mistake, and Kaepernick and Griffin III are too prone to making mistakes.
Will the Broncos Make a Move for Ryan Fitzpatrick? https://t.co/1rFPGHYOXr pic.twitter.com/RzxDTdmHny
— Gang Green Nation (@GangGreenNation) March 10, 2016
NFL Spin Zone notes that Fitzpatrick was finally put into an ideal scenario last season with the Jets.
“Fitzpatrick has never been or never will be an elite NFL quarterback, but he is a solid veteran option under center who can manage a game with the best of them. Fitzpatrick took his game to the next level last season, throwing to an impressive duo of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker at WR. Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders would give Fitzpatrick a similar talented duo to dominate with in Denver.”
While Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are great talents, it can be argued that Fitzpatrick’s cast in Denver would be even greater. Thomas and Sanders both had slightly down years in 2015, but that can be attributed to the quarterback carousel. Peyton Manning was a shell of his former self, and Brock Osweiler was a nothing more than a game manager. Fitzpatrick would flourish in the Broncos offense with Thomas and Sanders.
Even with the lackluster play at quarterback last season, the Broncos were still able to win the Super Bowl. As reported by the Inquisitr , C.J. Anderson could potentially sign with another team, but the Broncos are still going to be in the mix for the Super Bowl. Their defense is going to be one of the strongest in the league, and they will find options to plug in at running back.
Broncos’ fans even took to Twitter to campaign for Fitzpatrick in favor of Kaepernick, Griffin, and even Tim Tebow .
@Broncos Should make a play for Ryan Fitzpatrick. The move makes total sense, and losing Brock necessitates a veteran who can learn fast.
— Garret Mathany (@dotheMathany) March 10, 2016
It would be a HECK of a lot easier to stop liking the Broncos if they sign Kaepernick. But I would LOVE them if they sign Fitzpatrick.
— LovinBlue (@LovinBlue) March 10, 2016
Dear Broncos,
Please choose Fitzpatrick over Kaepernick.
Love, Grant
— Grant Bower (@GrantBower1) March 10, 2016
With the 2016 NFL free agency period still in the early stages, rumors are going to continue to link the Denver Broncos with various free agent quarterbacks. While former San Francisco 49ers signal caller Colin Kaepernick may be at the top of their list, they should really go after Ryan Fitzpatrick. As a seasoned and intelligent veteran, Fitzpatrick could be just the guy that the Broncos need in order to make it back to the Super Bowl in 2017.
[Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images]