NFL Rumors: Dolphins Sign Ninth Best Quarterback From Last Season

The Miami Dolphins have signed NFL veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to a two-year deal. He takes over from Ryan Tannehill. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks to pass against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium on November 18, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Getty Images/Al Bello

It has been a busy couple of days for the Miami Dolphins, but the team made sure that they have their quarterback needs covered. After trading away Ryan Tannehill to the Tennessee Titans, the Dolphins signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, one of last NFL season's best quarterbacks.

According to Adam Scheffer of ESPN, the Dolphins have reached an agreement with Fitzpatrick for a two-year deal. The new pact is reportedly worth roughly $11 million and could go as high as $17 to $20 million with incentives.

Miami has its new starting quarterback. Dolphins reached agreement on a two-year deal with former Buccaneers’ QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, per source. Fitzpatrick now will join his third AFC East team, having already started for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2019

For Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Dolphins will be his eighth team since joining the NFL back in 2005. He was the selected in the seventh round out of Harvard by the St. Louis Rams, the Bleacher Report noted.

Other teams where the 36-year-old suited up for include the Cincinnati Bengals (2007-08), Buffalo Bills (2009-2012), Tennesse Titans (2013), Houston Texans (2014), New York Jets (2015-16) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017-18). As one can see, Fitzpatrick has been around and his latest contract with the Dolphins could be the last ride for his NFL career.

With the Bucs, Fitzpatrick initially started out as a backup to Jameis Winston. However, he did have his chance to start for Tampa Bay and made a good account of himself. He completed 66.7-percent of his throws for 2,366 yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions across eight appearances in 2018, starting in seven of them.

In the coming NFL season, Fitzpatrick is likely to start for the Dolphins. That is unless Miami ends up signing another quarterback either in the 2019 NFL Draft or the free agent market. Backing him up at the position are Luke Falk and Jake Rudock.

Fitzpatrick automatically became a free agent after last NFL season. He signed a one-year $3 million contract and was not re-signed by Tampa Bay, USA Today reported. It wasn't mentioned if the change in the head coaching position had anything to do with the decision to pass on the 36-year-old quarterback.

Incidentally, the Dolphins will be under a new head coach in Brian Flores, someone who used to be part of the New England Patriots defensive staff. He replaced former Dolphins head coach Adam Gase who served Miami for three years and compiled a 23-25 record, NFL.com reported.

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