The NY Jets pulled a trade for Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason and while a move for Drew Brees has been rumored about, that deal is unlikely with the New Orleans Saints and if that doesn't happen, New York may look at Josh Freeman or Matt Schaub as potential backups for Geno Smith and Fitzpatrick.
The Jets are coming into the offseason after hiring a new head coach in Todd Bowles and GM in Mike Maccagnan and they have made fans forget about the John Idzik era. The team signed back Darrelle Revis on a major free agent deal and they also traded for wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Bears. The team has also reportedly received offers on Dee Milliner, according to Pro Football Talk. The team signed Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie this offseason.
The Jets also brought in Ryan Fitzpatrick to compete with Geno Smith this offseason to be the starter and there is the chance the team could bring in another quarterback. According to Pro Football Talk, the Jets had Josh Freeman in for a workout and he could be a potential third string option for the team for 2015.
Mike Freeman first reported the news about Freeman and he wrote on Twitter that Freeman "looked good" in the workout. Freeman was a former first round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he ended up in Minnesota after falling out of favor with Greg Schiano. Freeman had 25 touchdowns in 2010, but the next two seasons were less than stellar, Freeman throwing 39 interceptions. Freeman was with the Giants for a bit last offseason, but the team cut him in May.
The Jets could use Freeman as a veteran backup and he has not been with another team since getting released by the Giants. Fitzpatrick is expected to be the starter if he doesn't get beaten out by Smith and the Jets could use Freeman to add more competition. Matt Schaub was released by the Oakland Raiders last week and he could be another name to watch, as Rich Cimini writes that he could be a solid third string option after two years in Oakland.
The talk about Brees was mostly just that, but the Saints shocked everyone by trading Jimmy Graham and in the future they could look at moving the veteran quarterback. Brees has a huge cap number for 2015 and for 2016 and that could continue to be an issue for the Saints. The team wanted Brees to restructure his contract for this year, but he did not want to do that and moving forward there is a chance the team could consider a trade.
The Saints are not trading Brees this offseason and even if the Jets wanted him, they would have to rework their cap situation and that is why the deal is very unlikely. According to the MMQB, Brees could be a target to get traded next year, as the Saints have shown a willingness to make moves after trading away Jimmy Graham. The team had just signed Graham to a major contract when they dealt him to the Seahawks.
Peter King at the MMQB spoke with cap expert and "guru" Jason Fitzgerald, who runs the website Over the Cap, and he said based on the Saints situation, there is a good chance a trade could happen. Fitzgerald said that if the team and Brees cannot agree on a new deal (he's a $27 million cap hit in 2016) the team would be "open to trading" Brees, as he could get "value even (being) in his late 30s".