Several QB deals made on eve of NFL new year
For people wondering where is all the free-agent quarterback movement as the NFL’s “legal tampering” period enters its second day, well, calm down.
The biggest spenders at the position had been two teams keeping their supposed guy, Cam Newton in New England and Jameis Winston in New Orleans. Of course, trades that can be completed when the NFL’s business year begins today will see Carson Wentz with the Colts, Matthew Stafford heading to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff, who goes to the Lions.
On Tuesday, Indianapolis’ Jacoby Brissett landed with the Dolphins, and Andy Dalton left Dallas for Chicago.
Washington made the early QB news Tuesday by agreeing to terms with the very well-traveled Ryan Fitzpatrick. The 38-year-old “FitzMagic” joins his ninth franchise (Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, Buccaneers and Dolphins). He started seven and played in nine games last season for Miami, throwing for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Incredibly, Fitzpatrick never has been on a playoff team in his 16 pro seasons. He will be replaced as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup by Brissett, who will get a one-year, $5 million deal in Miami.
With 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Alex Smith released by Washington — no, Smith has not landed anywhere yet — Fitzpatrick will compete with Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen for the starting spot on a team that won the weak NFC East at 7-9.
A guy who not only has been to the postseason but has a Super Bowl ring, Von Miller, is remaining with the Broncos. Denver has exercised the star linebacker’s 2021 option, which engages the final season of the six-year, $114.5 million contract. Miller has recovered from a freak ankle injury that sidelined him all of last season.
Dalton has a shot to start in quarterback-weak Chicago, where Mitchell Trubisky was not kept and Nick Foles has to prove himself once again. The Bears are paying him about $10 million for one year, which is hefty for a backup.
Late Tuesday, a person familiar with the decision told the AP that the Rams were finalizing a trade sending veteran defensive tackle Michael Brockers to the Lions.
Brockers has been a stalwart on the Rams’ defensive line for the past nine seasons after they chose him with general manager Les Snead’s first draft pick in St. Louis in 2012.
Cincinnati grabbed one of the top pass-rush threats available in free agency, Trey Hendrickson. The former Saints defensive end gets $60 million over four years, with $32 million paid in the first two seasons, according to a person with knowledge of the contract.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, in an effort to revamp its woeful defensive unit, added defensive tackle Tyson Alualu on a $6 million, two-year deal.
Alualu, a graduate of Saint Louis School in Honolulu, spent his first seven seasons in Jacksonville after being drafted in the first round in 2010. He spent the last three seasons with the Steelers and started 10 of the 15 regular-season games he played in last season, as well as Pittsburgh’s wild-card playoff loss to Cleveland.