The Washington Football Team first signed Ryan Fitzpatrick but have since been wisely filling out the margin around their new veteran quarterback.
The Washington Football Team has been busy making additions to their squad this week after signing veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on Tuesday.
According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport, they have signed free-agent running back Lamar Miller to a one-year deal. Miller rejoins a deep list of running backs on the team’s squad and should act as good competition through the year.
This is on top of the Football Team signing former Bengals cornerback William Jackson III to a three-year, $42 million deal. One of the top cornerbacks available on the free agency market, Jackson III should help strengthen what is already a formidable defensive unit for Washington.
These moves both come on the back, as reported by ESPN on Tuesday, of inking Fitzpatrick to a one-year, $10 million deal. The team shores up the quarterback position after their release of Dwayne Haskins before the end of the season and parting ways with the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year, Alex Smith, in the last few weeks.
Washington’s front office guarantees that they have a proven NFL leader who has shown his value to all of the franchises he has played for with the signing of Fitzpatrick. In fact, the 18-year league veteran has the chance to become the first quarterback in history to start and throw a touchdown pass for nine different NFL franchises.
It is likely that general manager Martin Mayhew and the rest of the front office realize that Fitzpatrick is not their long-term solution at quarterback. Like many franchises this year, Washington will be eyeing options in the draft and Fitzpatrick will be an invaluable asset to a young player entering the league.
Extended career excellence is a very hard quality to find in the NFL and it makes total sense that they would bring Fitzpatrick in as a bridge quarterback for the year. Washington fans should be excited at the qualities Fitzpatrick will bring to their offense.
And the addition of Curtis Samuel, one of the top free-agent wide receivers, won’t hurt matters either.
They have a legitimate chance of success in the NFC East on the strength of their defensive unit alone and, if Fitzpatrick can bring a level of stability and consistency to the offense, the team can make waves this year.