The New York Jets have reportedly offered Ryan Fitzpatrick a three-year deal that includes $12 million in the first year, but the way the deal is structured after that is the reason Fitzpatrick remains a free agent.
According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, New York’s offer to Fitzpatrick is for three years and $24 million. The contract would reportedly pay $12 million in 2016 and $6 million each of the two seasons after that.
I was told #Jets offer to Ryan Fitzpatrick was 3-yrs $24 mil. $12 mil yr 1, avg of $6 mil per final 2. Starter $ yr 1, then elite backup $.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) May 29, 2016
As we said previously, the Jets are probably the ones who leaked the report about them offering Fitzpatrick $12 million in year one. And in reality, even that isn’t all that reasonable. Brock Osweiler inked a contract worth $18 million annually with the Houston Texans, and Fitzpatrick was much better than him last season.
Fitzpatrick had a career year in New York in 2015, and one star receiver reportedly skipped OTAs to protest that the team has not re-signed the quarterback. While Fitzpatrick would have already signed elsewhere if someone was offering him big money, he should be worth more than $24 million over three years. If anything, the Jets should pay him legitimate starter money for the next two seasons. That seems like a fair compromise.
