Source: QB Fitzpatrick, Washington have a deal
Washington is the next stop on the FitzMagic tour.
Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has agreed to sign with the Washington Football Team, according to a person with direct knowledge of the move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal cannot be official until the new league year starts Wednesday.
Fitzpatrick — who has earned the “FitzMagic” nickname for his late-game heroics late into his 30s — gives Washington more experience at football’s most important position after it released AP Comeback Player of the Year Alex Smith. The team now has Fitzpatrick, journeymanturned-playoff standout Taylor Heinicke and coach Ron Rivera favorite Kyle Allen under contract at quarterback.
Washington also has the 19th pick in the draft and could use one of its first few selections on a QB of the future. Fitzpatrick would be in the mix for the present on what’s expected to be a one-year deal. Multiple reports put the value at $10 million with an additional $2 million in incentives.
Fitzpatrick is joining his ninth NFL team at age 38 after stints with the St. Louis Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, Bucs and Dolphins. He started seven and played in nine games last season for Miami, throwing for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Much like with the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, Fitzpatrick could serve as a combination of a bridge to the future and a mentor for a rookie QB getting accustomed to the pros.
The Harvard graduate who was a seventh-round pick, 250th overall, in the same 2005 draft where
Smith went first, has since appeared in 165 NFL games, all in the regular season. He has 223 touchdowns, 179 interceptions and thrown for 34,977 yards.
Elsewhere:
• New England continued handing out money, agreeing with 49ers receiver Kendrick Bourne on a three-year, $22.5 million pact. The 25-year-old Bourne came on the last two seasons in San Francisco, though he’s not likely a No. 1 wideout.
• Chicago re-upped DE Mario Edwards for three years and $11.5 million. With his fourth pro team, Edwards had a career-best 4½ sacks for the Bears in 2020.
• Jacksonville added an immediate starter in Seattle cornerback Shaquill Griffin for a three-year deal worth up to $44.5 million, $29 million guaranteed. Griffin’s agent, Buddy Baker, tweeted “Duval,” a nod to the city’s rallying cry.
Griffin has 48 pass breakups, including six interceptions, in four years with the Seahawks. He had a careerbest three picks last season.
• As the Raiders revamp their blocking unit, they are releasing center Rodney Hudson. The 10-year veteran has two years remaining on his contract. Hudson has been among the NFL’s best blockers at center, and was an All-Pro in 2019.
• Cleveland is bringing in Takk McKinley, who has struggled to stay healthy since being a first-round draft selection by Atlanta in 2017. The Falcons didn’t pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, and cut him after four games last season while he dealt with a groin injury. McKinley, 25, was claimed by Cincinnati and San Francisco but failed physicals. He went to Las Vegas but wound up on injured reserve.