Nine days into free agency, Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick remains a free agent. Jets G.M. Mike Maccagnan hopes it doesn’t stay that way.
“He’s a very good fit for us,” Maccagnan told reporters on Friday. “Our goal is to eventually get him under contract.”
The Jets reportedly are offering Fitzpatrick “backup money.” Fitzpatrick reportedly wants a lot more. Maccagnan essentially confirmed that on Friday.
“At some point in time hopefully we can find a middle ground we’re both happy with,” Fitzpatrick said.
If the recent visit with free-agent quarterback Robert Griffin III was aimed at putting pressure on Fitzpatrick, Maccagnan squandered any leverage on Friday.
“It was more to do our due diligence,” Maccagnan said of the Griffin visit. “He was a player we looked at but our focus is to get something done with Ryan.”
No one else is currently pursuing Fitzpatrick, primarily because teams are waiting to see what happens with Colin Kaepernick. If/when the Kaepernick logjam ends (and if he’s not traded to the Jets), a quick market for Fitzpatrick could emerge.