Ryan Fitzpatrick Could Sign With A Team Other Than Jets Just On Principle?

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that Jets sources, including some players, believe QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is “amenable to spurning them on principle and taking less money to play elsewhere.”

• Mehta’s sources now believe that Fitzpatrick returning to the Jets is no longer a foregone conclusion.

This comes after the details of the Jets’ three-year, $24 million offer were leaked to the media. The contract includes $12 million in year one and over $15 million guaranteed. However, Fitzpatrick would be paid as an “elite backup” in the final two years of the agreement.

While I’m sure Fitzpatrick isn’t happy with the current situation, there hasn’t been any reported interest from other teams for months now. Beyond that, the Jets can offer him a starting job while he may have to accept a backup role with another team at this point in year.

Fitzpatrick, 32, played out the final year of his two-year, $7.5 million contract that included $4 million guaranteed and is currently the best quarterback still available in this year’s market.

In 2015, Fitzpatrick threw for 3,905 yards while completing 59.6 percent of his passes to go along with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Pro Football Focus has Fitzpatrick rated as the No. 27 quarterback out of 37 qualifying players.

We have him featured in our Best Available Free Agents list.