1. Re-Sign QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to a multi-year deal.
Fitzpatrick finished the season with 3,905 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions for a season rating of 88. He looked and played faster, stronger, and smarter than he has in the past 11 years he’s been in this league.
More importantly, he is the clear leader of this New York Jets offense. New York will re-sign Fitzpatrick. The question is: How much are they going to pay him and for how long?
Maccagnan knows that this guy isn’t likely to play five more years at the level he’s currently playing at (especially if he continues to slide head-first) but two, maybe three years at this level is doable especially if the offensive line improves and the number of playmakers around Fitz increases.
The best option for the Jets is to re-sign Fitz to a three year deal worth somewhere around $15 million, the majority of which will be guaranteed up front.
Give him the guaranteed money he earned this season and front-load the contract so that there’s room to release him in the third year should things go sour.
Based on the way Mike Maccagnan held firm in the Muhammad Wilkerson extension talks this season, I don’t expect the new GM to overpay Fitz nor do I expect the Harvard man to ask for more than he deserves.
And that’s good because the Jets have another key player they need to re-sign in the coming weeks. But before this can happen they need to free up as much cap space as possible.
