It’s slim pickings on the open market for free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and the likelihood of him signing with anyone other than the New York Jets is pretty unlikely. But that doesn’t mean the team doesn’t have options should they decide to look elsewhere.
Inquisitr takes a look at the top five options at quarterback for the New York Jets.
5) Colin KaepernickThe most intriguing option on the board for the Jets to replace Ryan Fitzpatrick is still the least likely to happen, but it bears watching whether or not the 49ers are still looking to deal their once-future quarterback. As reported by SB Nation, Kaepernick’s 2016 salary became fully guaranteedon Friday, putting his trade demand in serious jeopardy. Any team that would have him would have to be able to either shed cap space to acquire him or rework his deal prior to the trade to make it work.
An intriguing possibility for the Jets would be to deal Pro Bowl defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, whose cap hit is close to Colin’s this year at $15.7 million. But according to Rich Cimini, who covers the Jets for ESPN , the trade doesn’t make sense for the Jets.
“Kaepernick is a fixer-upper. Once considered a future star, his numbers have declined steadily. His Total QBR has dropped every year since 2012, in large part because he’s not a pocket passer. In 2015, his QBR inside the pocket (39.0) was the second-worst in the league and he was sacked at the highest rate on such plays, according to ESPN Stats & Information.”
Add in the fact that Denver is hot and heavy to land the once promising signal caller and it looks like Kaepernick to the New York Jets falls outside the realm of possibilities.
4) Mike GlennonAs reported by Inquisitr, the Jets have looked into acquiringthe former third-round pick of the Bucs as a replacement for Ryan Fitzpatrick. In fact, today’s pigskin thinks it makes sense for the Bucs to deal him, though not necessarily to New York.
“One rumor that has been hot the last week is Tampa Bay trading Glennon to the New York Jets for defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who was franchised by the Jets. But trading for Wilkerson would be tough. Tampa Bay would have to pick up his franchise salary and then would only have him for a season. No matter what he did, Wilkerson would want Gerald McCoy-like money, and that would be hard for the Buccaneers to re-sign him.”
3) Josh McCownWith RG III now firmly planted in Cleveland and the Browns under new management both at head coach and general manager, the big time free agent acquisition is reportedly on the hot seat — just don’t tell him that.
“Right now, it’s come in and compete and show up, so that’s what I’ll do,” McCown told Pro Football Talk . “If that changes, that changes, and I’ll go to that next place and compete there as well… I’ll go with that mindset, and if they see differently and I am traded or moved along, I’ll appreciate my time there and then go embrace the next opportunity.”
With Cleveland looking to draft a quarterback with the number one pick in the NFL Draft, don’t expect McCown to be under contract with the Browns at the start of the 2016 season. And if Fitzpatrick remains in limbo, expect Jets GM Mike Maccaggnan to pick up the phone to Josh’ agents.
2) Brian HoyerIn a similar situation to that of Josh McCown, Brian Hoyer’s name has come up recently in talks of replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick of the New York Jets, as reported by NJ Dot Com . The only reason to grade his arrival as a higher likelihood than that of McCown’s is Mike Maccaggnan’s link to his former team the Houston Texans.
1) Geno SmithWhile most Jets fans might cringe if Smith were the opening day starter instead of Ryan Fitzpatrick, his ascension back into the starting role is the most likely outcome if Fitzpatrick continues to hold out for a big contract. Coach Todd Bowles even said as much recently, as reported by the NY Post, when he went out of his way to praiseSmith.
“We thought Geno matured last year,” he said. “It’s something you couldn’t see because he didn’t play as much, but you saw it in practice and you saw it off the field with his demeanor. Geno’s still our quarterback. He’s still on our team. He’s still one of our guys. That’s all I can say. He matured a lot. We’ll come to camp and see if he puts it all together and go from there.”
[Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images]