The New York Jets are bringing a familiar face in Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the trade for the veteran quarterback could spell the end of the Geno Smith era.
On Wednesday the Jets traded a conditional 2016 draft pick to the Houston Texans for Fitzpatrick. It is a move that helps shore up one of the thinnest positions for the Jets, as second-year player Geno Smith and aging veteran Michael Vick were both ineffective last season.
Fitzpatrick was pushed out of a crowded backfield in Houston, where the team re-signed Ryan Mallett and picked up former Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer in free agency. Fitzpatrick was the Texans starter to begin last season, but after going 4-5 he was benched in favor of Mallett.
After Mallet suffered a torn pectoral muscle, Fitzpatrick resumed the starting job and set a franchise record with six touchdown passes against the Tennessee Titans. But in his third start Fitzpatrick broke his leg and went to injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Fitzpatrick is a very well known to the Jets. He was the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback for a long stretch during Rex Ryan’s tenure, playing under new Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.
Gailey was able to get the best production of Fitzpatrick’s career in Buffalo, leading many to think that he can win the starting job and push Geno Smith out of the team’s future plans entirely. In Smith’s 29 starts the team has an 11-18 record, and in a handful of those games he was pulled in favor of Vick.
Geno Smith’s future in New York is now up in the air. New coach Todd Bowles won’t say for sure his plans for Smith, and some believe that the Jets could — or should — seek a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft . While Fitzpatrick is not seen as a long-term solution at quarterback, he can serve as a placeholder while the Jets look for a new franchise quarterback.
The moves to re-vamp the offense come at a time when New York’s AFC East foes have been shoring up their defenses. The Buffalo Bills re-signed pass rusher Jerry Hughes, while the Dolphins landed the biggest prize of free agency in Nkdamukong Suh.
The New York Jets may not be done upgrading their offense. After trading for Brandon Marshall and Fitzpatrick, the team could be seeking new help at running back. Rumors had indicated that Todd Bowles would make a run at free agent C.J. Spiller , who like Fitzpatrick had the best years of his career under Gailey in Buffalo.
[Image via CBS Sports ]
