For his next “Fitzmagic” trick, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick might disappear from the Jets.
Fitzpatrick and the Jets are not close to a new contract and he will reach free agency when it begins Wednesday afternoon, according to a source. Teams began negotiating with pending free agents Monday, so in a way Fitzpatrick, along with all of the Jets free agents, are already on the market. Players cannot sign with teams until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The Jets also did not get deals done with nose tackle Damon Harrison or running backs Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. All are expected to draw serious interest on the open market. Bleacher Report reported the Titans are the favorites to land Harrison.
The Jets and Fitzpatrick have been open about their desire to stay together since the season, but it appears the two sides have different opinions when it comes to the quarterback’s value.
This is not a simple deal to do. It is hard to gauge Fitzpatrick’s market value. That is likely why the Jets are letting Fitzpatrick hit free agency, almost daring him to go out and find another team that will pay him what he is seeking.
Exactly what kind of money Fitzpatrick wants and what the Jets are offering is unknown. But people around the league believe Fitzpatrick’s agent is asking for him to be paid in the $16 million-$18 million per year range, which is where many veteran quarterbacks are on the pay scale. Sam Bradford’s deal with the Eagles last week averages $18 million per season. Bradford is coming off a season when he threw 19 touchdowns. Fitzpatrick threw a franchise-record 31 touchdowns.
The estimate from league people is the Jets would like to pay him in the $8 million-$10 million per year range. The Jets were thrilled with Fitzpatrick’s play and leadership in their 10-6 season last year, but they can argue it was a one-year blip for Fitzpatrick, a 33-year-old journeyman. All teams always argue they are not paying for past performance, but projecting future performance. Does anyone believe Fitzpatrick can duplicate his 2015 season?
The Jets probably are counting on no team being willing to pay Fitzpatrick big bucks in free agency. His marriage with the Jets appears to be a near-perfect one, and it is unlikely he would have more value to another team or a team would be a better fit for him. He reunited with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who he played for in Buffalo, and clicked with Jets wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. The chemistry between all of them resulted in the Jets gaining the most yards in franchise history.
In the end, this could all be posturing by both sides and part of the dance that is a negotiation. If no teams come close to Fitzpatrick’s asking price, the Jets could sweeten their deal a bit and bring him back for another season.
If Fitzpatrick does find a suitor, the Jets would be in sad shape at quarterback. Geno Smith and Bryce Petty are on the roster, but having to start either of them in 2016 would be a step backward. The free-agent market is thin. Fitzpatrick, Robert Griffin III and Brock Osweiler are the top quarterbacks on the market. They could draft a quarterback, but starting a rookie would not be the best thing for a veteran team in win-now mode.
Marshall made his desire for Fitzpatrick to return clear in a video he posted to Instagram on Monday showing the receiver playing with teddy bears, pretending one was Fitzpatrick throwing a touchdown pass to the other bear, which was supposed to be Marshall.
Marshall is clearly hoping Fitzmagic does not pull a disappearing act.