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The Houston Texans have announced that Ryan Fitzpatrick, most recently of the Titans, will be their starting quarterback going into 2014. Texan fans’ high hopes for fourth round QB Tom Savage — who probably wasn’t set to be the starter going into the season anyway — have been quickly diminished.
Fitzpatrick, a 2005, seventh round selection (and Wonderlic superstar), has proven to be the by-the-book definition of a serviceable backup in the NFL. In starts, he has played average; he doesn’t win games or lose them — finishing 16th (of 39 eligible QBs) in 2013, in total QBR. QBR is ESPN’s metric to gauge a QB’s impact on a game.
With talent surrounding him, it’s not completely farfetched to see a playoff run out of Fitzpatrick, though he has not yet seen the playoffs.
However, the Houston Texans are in a very odd place right now. They just signed a new, unproven head coach, and one of their franchise players is unhappy with his situation.
Wide receiver Andre Johnson, a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection, has expressed dissatisfaction with his team; Johnson is a highlight in an organization facing possible restoration. Going on 33 years old, next month, it appears that the veteran wide receiver wants to be in a better position to ‘win-now’.
The Solution
Johnson wants out of Houston, and the Jets want to win-now. They have the tools to do so; with Johnson, they might be guaranteed a playoff berth (but not really.)
Going into the season, every Jet fan and their mother knows that Geno Smith is who the organization wants taking snaps under center in 2014. The luxury of a vet like Michael Vick is highly valuable, but not necessarily a need.
Andre Johnson for Michael Vick — straight up. Or, add in a draft pick or two and Fitzpatrick becomes the veteran behind Smith.
Sure, if the first scenario took place, and Smith was to start and get injured during the season, the Jets might be hot water. But it’s not like the Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees’ of the world have much depth behind them either.
Houston may not want to experience life after Andre Johnson, just yet, but they might not have a choice. Johnson was a no-show at Texans mini-camp today, and there are no indications that he’ll be on the field any time soon. This isn’t something you can just throw money at; might as well earn some value from the absent player.
Speaking of the cha-ching, Johnson is scheduled to make $6.5 million in 2014. His cap number of $14.6 million is the larger issue at play, even though the Jets remain the team with the fourth most cap space ($22.5 million). The Jets will look to save cap space for season flexibility and the re-signings of Wilkerson and Kerley, among others. However, Johnson may be open to re-working his deal, to latch-on with a new team.
Realistically, this’ll never happen, but not because it doesn’t make sense. Teams, by this point in the offseason, want a man under center who understands the playbook to some degree. The NFL is also a more conservative league in terms of trades, as opposed to say the MLB.
Still, to the Houston Texans or New York Jets intern that earns college credits to read these kinds of articles, please pitch the idea to your superior. This deal could be mutually beneficial for both clubs.
