WFT Free Agency

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Washington Football Team
Multiple execs think Washington is on track to win the NFC East again after what appeared to be a solid free agency from a personnel standpoint. A year or two ago, who would have thought that possible for a team that targeted Ryan Fitzpatrick as its starting quarterback?

“Fitz gives them a legitimate chance,” an evaluator said. “He is a legitimate starter who will do on offense what the defensive end (Chase Young) does for them on defense from a leadership standpoint. That’s just the type of impact he has on a team when he’s the guy. They are getting someone who comes in and yells in your face and gets everyone amped. When have they had that guy?”

Alex Smith, Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III were not that guy from a temperament standpoint. Few quarterbacks are, and probably for good reason. But for a Washington team that is strongest on defense, Fitzpatrick could be an offensive leader to rally around, provided he does not revert to past turnover-prone ways.

“Curtis Samuel at $11.5 million is a good value for a solid second receiver, gadget guy,” an exec said. “Pairing him with his old college teammate (Terry McLaurin) gives them a formidable receiving corps. They have a lot more weapons than Fitzpatrick had in Miami. On defense, William Jackson is slightly better than Ronald Darby at corner, but also more expensive. We will see if they can get a quarterback for the future, but they are better and they are going to be a problem in the NFC East.”