Report: Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to become free agent

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to become a free agent after he and the team could not reach a contract agreement.

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to become a free agent after he and the team failed to work out a new deal, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

The team and Fitzpatrick remained far apart on the terms they were willing to accept for a contract extension as of Monday, Rapoport reported.

Going into the off-season, the expectation was that New York would sign the 33-year-old to a new deal. The move would leave backup Geno Smith, who has struggled in his 29 career starts, as the team’s top option at quarterback.

Fitzpatrick started all 16 games for the Jets after being traded by the Houston Texans in March. He led New York to a 10–6 record, a major improvement from the team’s 4–12 record in 2014.

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Fitzpatrick completed 59.6% of his passes while racking up 3,905 yards, 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

The Harvard graduate has posted a 43–61–1 record since being picked in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.