Will Dolphins deal Fitzpatrick at deadline?
The Miami Dolphins may have already decided to keep 16-year veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in tow for the remainder of his contract this season to backup and mentor rookie starter Tua Tagovailoa.
But that may not stop the Dolphins from at least fielding a phone call or two on Fitzpatrick’s availability before the NFL trade deadline, which is next Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Fitzpatrick may not command a sizeable trade market, although there could be a possible fit for a team desperate for help to finish the season. But several league sources believe the Dolphins would be foolish to deal Fitzpatrick at the trade deadline.
“They 100 percent believe Tua is going to be a superstar,” one league source told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “If Tua gets hurt, what happens then? Miami has to be really careful with that.”
“I’m sure there’s going to be interest [in Fitzpatrick],” another source said. “I just really don’t know they would be willing to trade him.”
Both sources would only speak on the condition of anonymity.
A logical trade partner could be the Dallas Cowboys, who lost quarterback Dak Prescott to a season-ending leg injury and just lost backup Andy Dalton to a concussion last Sunday.
The NFC East is the most abysmal division in football, with the Eagles (2-4-1), Washington (2-5), Cowboys (2-5) and Giants (1-6) all in the mix for a playoff spot.
Perhaps, one of those teams believe Fitzpatrick, who has a 95.0 passer rating, could spark up some FitzMagic for a stretch run at the end of this season.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores deferred to general manager Chris Grier, who is rarely available to reporters during the season, when asked about Fitzpatrick’s availability this week.
“That’s really a Chris question. He’s the one who handles all the calls from different teams,” Flores said as the Dolphins (3-3) prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams (5-2) this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. “My focus is on this team, this week and getting our guys ready to play.”
Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who coached Fitzpatrick for five seasons before to their six-game stint together as play-caller and quarterback this season in Miami, partially came out of a three-year retirement to coach Fitzpatrick again.
Gailey was also not for thinking about the hypothetical.
“Look, I can’t speculate on that. I have no idea,” Gailey said with a smile. “I like him. I love having him here. I’d hate to see him go. But somebody would step in. That’s the way this business is.”
League sources believe the Dolphins may not be able to command anything higher than a Day 3 pick in exchange for Fitzpatrick, a spot in the fourth or fifth round of the draft.
The Dolphins would have to bank on another team being desperate to make a move and not throw away their season to get a valuable pick in return.
Although both league sources believe the Dolphins won’t part with Fitzpatrick, one gave the chances of Miami trading him as about 20 percent.
Tagovailoa, who has recovered from his gruesome hip injury last year, will start his first NFL game on Sunday against the Rams, beginning a 10-game stretch that closes out the season. It’s also considered the start of the next stage of the Dolphins’ rebuilding process.
Fitzpatrick — who has completed 70 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions — was always considered by the franchise as the bridge between former firstround pick Ryan Tannehill, who left after the 2018 season, and the team’s future quarterback, now Tagovailoa.
Signing signing with Miami as a free agent in March 2019, Fitzpatrick has galvanized teammates in the Dolphins locker room, become a fan favorite and helped lead the franchise through the first stages of its overhaul under Flores and Grier.
Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki, who has been outspoken about his relationship with Fitzpatrick during the past two seasons, spoke about Fitzpatrick’s knack for celebrating big touchdowns, running down the field to block for other teammates, and even strapping up his pads for a training camp scrimmage shortly after finding out his mother passed away in August.
“A leader for us,” Gesicki said of Fitzpatrick. “I think the biggest thing with Fitz is he loves football. He loves being out there. And he gave it everything he had from the second he was here. … All those things make him the player he is and the leader he is. I’ll forever be indebted to Fitz. He believed in me when not too many people did. So, a thank you to him.”
Miami is not in a dire position to trade Fitzpatrick, one league source said, while adding Fitzpatrick should have a decent market as a free agent in the offseason if he wants to stave off retirement and continue playing.
Fitzpatrick spoke last week about being heartbroken after losing the Dolphins starting job, needing the bye last week to soak it all in and vowing to accept his new role.
Fitzpatrick may be more valuable to the Dolphins as a backup, mentor to Tagovailoa and locker room presence than a future draft pick that may or may not pan out. He could also play again if any scenario arises based on injury or poor play by Tagovailoa.
“I think he’s disappointed, but I don’t think he’s unhappy [in Miami],” a source said.