NFL Rumors: Ryan Fitzpatrick Leaving New York Jets For San Francisco 49ers


NFL rumors have been swirling around Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s a free agent after having a great year. The New York Jets aren’t willing to show a commitment. Their low-ball contract offer has Fitzpatrick looking at other teams in the National Football League. With the dearth of starting caliber quarterbacks around, Fitzpatrick should receive plenty of interest. According to NBC Sports, Fitzpatrick is seriously considering signing with the San Francisco 49ers.

While a lot of fans don’t understand why the New York Jets won’t lock down a quarterback who did really well for them after years of going through mediocrity at the position, the team knows that they have a ton of things to worry about. Right now, the Jets barely have any salary space whatsoever. Management is going to need to make some moves on the roster, because they currently do not have enough room to sign guys they choose in the upcoming NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick [Photo by Michael B Thomas/Getty Images]

The New York Jets are looking to negotiate with a couple of their key players. Eric Decker is a candidate to restructure his contract so that the team can get some wiggle room. Breno Giacomini could be a salary cap casualty, especially if the Jets feel that they can find a new starting tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft. Their other starting tackle, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, needs to get together with management to see what they can do to make the pieces fit together.

Muhammad Wilkerson is one of the best players on the New York Jets roster. The franchise obviously doesn’t want to lose him, because it would set their defensive line back a couple of years. However, something needs to be done. Wilkerson has a salary cap figure of $15.7 million, which is a whole lot of money. The Jets have their backs to the wall, so there’s a chance that Wilkerson could be playing for another NFL team next season.

New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson
Muhammad Wilkerson [Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images]

With so many positions to worry about, the New York Jets know that the quarterback position is in dire need. That’s why it’s odd that management is playing hardball with Ryan Fitzpatrick. If the team had salary cap space and if Fitzpatrick was a bit younger, then a long-term deal more than likely would have been hammered out by now. Since neither of those scenarios currently exists, the Jets run the risk of losing the guy who commanded their offense with so much efficiency.

Efficiency is something that the San Francisco 49ers definitely needed at the quarterback position last season. With so much of their talent leaving town, Colin Kaepernick was left on an island. He struggled mightily. First-year NFL head coach Jim Tomsula simply was not creative enough or experienced enough to overcome the team issues that plagued Kaepernick. A veteran leader like Ryan Fitzpatrick might have fared better for the Niners last season because he has more composure.

New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker
Eric Decker [Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images]

Swapping Colin Kaepernick for Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn’t bode well for long-term planning. However, the San Francisco 49ers are not in a position to make great demands. Kaepernick has already requested a trade, and NFL teams know that. Blaine Gabbert is far from being the best long term solution for any National Football League team. The Niners need to keep the faith of the fan base at a reasonable level. If Fitzpatrick can help them win games now, then management has to consider the move.

At this point in free agency, players and NFL teams don’t necessarily get to choose exactly what they want. This is where people settle. Ryan Fitzpatrick and the San Francisco 49ers might need to settle for one another.

[Photo by Tom Sczcerbowski/Getty Images]

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