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3 free agent quarterbacks the Redskins should consider signing in 2019

By Jacob Camenker

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 30: Robert Griffin III #3 of the Baltimore Ravens shakes hands with head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins following a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 30: Robert Griffin III #3 of the Baltimore Ravens shakes hands with head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins following a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 09: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during warm-ups before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 09: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during warm-ups before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /

3. player. 48. . Quarterback. Buccaneers. Ryan Fitzpatrick

Sometimes he’s Fitzmagic, sometimes he’s Fitztragic. But one thing is certain. Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to start for an NFL team at some point in 2019. It’s just a matter of who and when.

Fitzpatrick is one of the best spot starters in the league. At times, he has proven to be capable of leading strong rosters to victory and has gotten teams close to the postseason in the past as well. However, for every strong-to-elite performance Fitzpatrick puts up, he puts up a handful of clunkers. For that reason, it’s tough to trust him as a season-long starter.

Still, the Redskins are desperate for competition at quarterback. Even if McCoy can be the full-time starter for them — a proposition that seems likely in 2019 — the team will have to bring in a veteran backup to help them keep things competitive. That’s where Fitzpatrick will come in, as he would be a solid, steady presence to step in if McCoy went down.

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If he’s just appearing in a couple of games, Fitzpatrick can hold up well. In the past five seasons, he has compiled a 23-26 record as a starter. That’s not great, but the fact is that as a backup or part-time starter, he has been able to get close to .500. So, if McCoy went down and Fitzpatrick came in, the team would at least have a shot at remaining competitive.

Fitzpatrick’s fit in Washington is a solid one, but it could become redundant if the team decides to go with Josh Johnson as McCoy’s veteran insurance policy. The team could certainly keep Johnson, then draft a passer, and carry that trio into the season with Smith also on the roster but likely stashed on the PUP list.

Fitzpatrick may not be a young option (36). He may not have a lot of upside. He may not be the type of guy you can rely on for 16 games. But, he has experience and shouldn’t be discounted in the event that Johnson doesn’t return. Of all the potential cheap, veteran options on the market, Fitzpatrick is certainly one of the ones that could make more sense for the ‘Skins.

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