Ryan Fitzpatrick might have had a career-high season with the New York Jets this season, but that is not stopping quarterback questions from rising around the franchise. Fitzpatrick gave the Jets needed stability under center, something they have lacked in the last few seasons, but there are still unknown factors heading into 2016. With a contract a priority for Fitzpatrick, the long-term outlook of the quarterback position is an issue that must be dealt with this offseason.
Jets' general manager Mike Maccagnan made it clear that Fitzpatrick is the intended starter for 2016 and a contract for the quarterback is expected to be agreed upon quickly. Fitzpatrick is expected to get a pay raise of around $10 million to $12 million on a deal that could last around three years. Fitzpatrick was a star in 2015, but his age means the Jets must begin to think down the road at the quarterback spot. The first thing the team must do is determine the future of both Geno Smith and Bryce Petty before looking for help.
Smith's future is an unknown in New York. The quarterback is no longer being viewed as the future of the franchise, but that does not mean he will be released. According to Maccagnan via the team website, Smith is still under contract and his future will be evaluated along with Petty's. The Jets have not yet given up on Smith, but that does not mean he is the future for the team.
"Bryce has made a lot of progress and we're kind of excited to have another offseason with him," Maccagnan said, via NewYorkJets.com. "I would say with Geno, he's under contract, we like the progress he's made and how he even handled the situation in the summer. Right now, I would say going forward we're going to see how Geno and Bryce progress with the offseason and go from there, and that's assuming we're able to re-sign Ryan."
If the Jets are able to re-sign Fitzpatrick, the team could look towards the draft for another rookie to bring on and potentially develop for the future. Maccagnan did not deny the idea of getting someone in to eye for the long-term outlook of the franchise. If Smith and Petty are really not looking like potential fits when Fitzpatrick is gone, drafting someone now will smooth the transition. Players like Connor Cook, Christian Hackenberg, Jake Coker and Kevin Hogan could all be late-round picks with the potential of developing into something big for the Jets.
A quarterback in the draft is not going to be a top priority for New York unless the team misses out on Fitzpatrick. Maccagnan told the media that he is always look at the position as one of need regardless of whether or not the team has someone established as the starter.
"It's such an important position that I think every NFL team probably goes into the draft, with maybe a few exceptions of people who have really well established quarterbacks, of always looking at that position as a position of interest. We'll be no different than them," Maccagnan said.
