The Denver Broncos need a quarterback.
Not necessarily in the sense that 30 other NFL teams need one. After all, they just won the Super Bowl with a noodle-armed Peyton Manning who statistically had the worst season of any Super-Bowl-winning quarterback. The Broncos need one in the general sense. Someone to take the snap, hand the ball off, and occasionally throw the ball downfield without committing a backbreaking turnover.
Nearly every other NFL team needs a star at quarterback to have any chance of making and competing in the playoffs. However, the Broncos defense was so damn terrifying by the end of last season, Denver might actually only need your standard, replacement-level signal caller to be successful again next season.
They already traded for Mark Sanchez, who showed flashes of competence in Philadelphia, but it is doubtful he is the Broncos ideal starter in 2016. Going from butt fumble to Super Bowl champion starting quarterback is something I do not think even this defense could facilitate.
https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/708360949959434240
Enter Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The New York Jets quarterback is a free agent and coming off arguably the best season of his career. The journeyman exploded for nearly 4,000 yards passing and 31 touchdowns last season following two seasons in football purgatory in Tennessee and Houston.
The Broncos appear to be interested in Fitzpatrick taking over from Manning. However, Fitzpatrick is apparently out of Denver’s price range.
Broncos-Ryan Fitzpatrick had initial conversation, price more than Denver wants to spend at this time, and they could revisit talks later.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2016
No contract numbers have been released, so I will not rush to judge Fitzpatrick too quickly here, but he can’t be too picky in this situation, can he? There might be no quarterback gig more tailor-made for instant success than Denver’s right now. Even if running back CJ Anderson leaves, the offense is loaded with weapons and the league’s best defense returns almost entirely intact.
If the contract Denver is offering is remotely close to what he is seeking, Fitzpatrick should sign immediately. I’m all for athletes getting their money while they can, but it is extremely doubtful the 33-year-old quarterback will ever have a better shot at going down in football immortality. If the money is not quite good enough, he could still sign a short-term deal, compete as the likely Super Bowl favorite for a season, and grab a big check after putting up numbers in a secretly loaded offense.
Of course, this is the NFL and that is easier said than done. Fitzpatrick’s career could be finished on any play, and the whole plan would be out the window. Still, the pieces are in place for a Fitzpatrick to put up the season of a lifetime. The question for the rest of the offseason is: how much is he willing to risk for it?
That is up for Fitzpatrick to decide.
