***Opinion Editorial***
The crossroads for the 2018 season might be now for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while they chart on how to proceed in their season. They have a little more time to heal their thin and weak secondary, still sore from the thrashing from the Chicago Bears.
If I were Jason Licht, I would seriously consider moving Ryan Fitzpatrick before the trade deadline. If there was ever a time to strike when the coals are hot, Fitzpatrick could be the best Band-Aid for a team looking for stability and could be a short-term solution.
Make no mistake, anybody who balled like Fitz did in the first three games of the season could very well command another shot despite his tendency to fizzle out during the season after previous hot starts, which has earned him his journeyman reputation.
Has Fitz changed? The Bears’ game could be a sign of things to come or just an anomaly, but we might get more of an idea of the true identity of the 2018 team when they face the Atlanta Falcons after the bye week. Licht doesn’t really need to do anything, but for the sake of the season and likely his job, he needs to find a way to find valuable and quality depth on the secondary before it gets uglier than it is now.
Also, with the Bucs working out QB Paxton Lynch, the writing on the wall is that they could possibly be looking to move Fitz.
Here are the possible destinations for Fitz that make sense. I am eliminating the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets from the list because he’s already spent stints with them.
Houston Texans
While the team is set with Deshawn Watson as their franchise quarterback, the Texans could use a steady hand as backup in case he gets seriously injured again like last season when he was placed on injured reserve following a hot streak.
Fitzpatrick would certain be at least an upgrade to Brandon Weeden, who hasn’t done much of anything since being drafted by the Cleveland Browns and is another failed experiment at QB.
They could have three options in defensive backs: Kareem Jackson, who’s spent his entire 9-year career with the Texans with 14 career interceptions and 73 passes defended; Johnson Bademosi, who is in his 7th season having prior stints with the Browns, Lions and Patriots, with one interception and 9 passes defended in his career; and Treston Decoud, who can play both corner and safety but is only in his second season.
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners could use a veteran insurance policy with C.J. Beathard getting the start after Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending injury. Backing Beathard up is rookie Nick Mullens. At 1-3, they have an uphill climb to overcome their struggles, but with zero intentions of signing their former starter Colin Kaepernick again, Fitz’s best chance to start or be a steady hand would be with the Niners as he would have competent receivers in Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin.
When it comes to secondary, Jimmie Ward is the only backup corner with more than one year of experience, entering his fifth year. Rookie Tavarious Moore is filling in for the injured starting corner Richard Sherman. Greg Mabin, who’s in his second year, is far too inexperienced. D.J. Reed is the Niner’s other rookie backup corner. Ward has had a knack for pass defense, yielding two INTs and 21 passes defended, his best year being 2016.
Dallas Cowboys
While owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett have full confidence in starter Dak Prescott, Fitzpatrick would represent an immediate upgrade over Cooper Rush and Mike White as second year and rookie backups, respectively.
Unlike Watson, Prescott has remained healthy and has played consistently despite the loss of talent in receiving. Of all the potential trade partners, the Cowboys are the least likely to pull the trigger.
Corner Jourdan Lewis hasn’t seen enough quality experience but in his rookie season did have an interception and 10 passes defended. Anthony Brown is in his third season, and he already has 3 INTs and 21 passes defended.
