It's a (kind of) Magic?

Whilst not making the flashiest of moves in Free Agency, Washington has garnered respect from local and national commentators, for the Football Team’s solid new roster additions this off-season.

Securing the signatures of Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB), William Jackson III (CB) and Curtis Samuel (WR) seem to align well with the Ron Rivera, Marty Hurney and Mayhew philosophy of attaining well-considered, studied, and upgraded talent to the WFT roster.

Although Washington made a reasonable push for another veteran QB Matt Stafford, Rivera and company had less to offer up than the eventual Detroit trade partner, the LA Rams.

The first addition was, therefore, Fitzpatrick, an unashamedly well-travelled 39-year-old QB who penned a one-year deal for $12m.

A journeyman he might be, but this is a QB for whom his NFL career has ascended in the twilight years and is edging towards post-season performance levels. In Miami, we can make a solid guess that the Dolphins might have given Ryan his first career play-off appearance in 2020 if they had firmly stuck with the bearded veteran over rookie Tua Tagovailoa.

Why is Fitzpatrick a good on-field addition for Washington?

At the start of the 2020 season, the young OC in D.C, Scott Turner, spoke of his desire to scheme up the play-action to get the best out of the second-year Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins.

Although the less said the better about Haskins in the Turner offense, and in Washington in general, it does point towards a good fit for Fitzpatrick in the burgundy & gold.

The sample size for Ryan in 2020 was just the seven starts (nine games in total) but equalled a QB rank of #4 in play action completion efficiency, #2 in deep ball completion and #1 in pressured completion percentage.

Even the most optimistic WFT fan will admit that the likely pocket time afforded in D.C for the new veteran will be around the average/OK protection category at best.

The ability, therefore, to create outside of the pocket and get the ball out early to the potential dynamic duo of McLaurin and Samuel is essential if the WFT are to repeat an NFC East divisional title.

If the Washington DL continues the upward curve given the major talent within that positional group, then a veteran QB like Fitzpatrick will be afforded excellent field position to take advantage of this potential dominance in the trenches.

Off-field Leadership?

Ryan is of unquestionable high character too.

This from Mike Gesicki, tight end in Miami speaks volumes for the leadership of Fitzpatrick:

"He's the greatest teammate I've played with. He is always having fun. Just the things that he does on the field, the energy that he brings, and the confidence that he gives out to everybody else, it is contagious. Playing with him, the thing that makes him special is that he makes the guys around him better players. If I could play with him for the next 15 years, I would do it"

For a fanbase who fully respected, but in all honesty were never really excited by the game management of Alex Smith, the fire of Taylor Heinicke was a real boon. I expect Ryan to continue that fire & energy in 2021 in what promises to be a season of excitement in the second year of the Rivera era.

The considered Rivera approach

Rivera has a long leash in Washington and the capture of Fitzpatrick allowed the WFT to keep all picks in the 2021 Draft.

The burgundy and gold can still make a dramatic move if they are enamoured by a particular QB college talent.

But my guess is that with four picks in rounds 1-3, the areas of LB, OL and FS will be addressed, with the potential for a flyer on another exciting attacking weapon at #19 if one one of the many talented wideouts is the best player available.

What could go wrong with the Fitzpatrick signing?

The most obvious answer is that the last two seasons might well be outliers rather than the real Fitzpatrick.

Known for both his magic and his interceptions, the WFT staff are putting more faith in the former. There is a chance that many a Washington fan will be looking at the game management of Smith with nostalgia if Ryan hits the INT mode of the past.

Stability at the Hardest Position in Sports™ is a requirement for any functioning NFL franchise and at least pre-draft, the WFT QB room of Fitzpatrick, Heinicke and Kyle Allen will not be causing too many a sleepless nights for your average NFL DC.

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