Jets must send sixth-rounder based on Ryan Fitzpatrick's time played
— -- The New York Jets will surrender a sixth-round pick to the Houston Texans in the trade for Ryan Fitzpatrick now that that quarterback has played in 70 percent of the Jets' plays this season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
When the Jets traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Texans for Fitzpatrick in March, the agreement was that it would become a sixth-round pick if he reached that number, according to sources. And Fitzpatrick has now done that.
Coupling that with trade the brought them wide receiver Brandon Marshall for a fifth-round pick from the Bears, the Jets put together one of their most prolific passing tandems for a single season for the cost of a fifth- and a sixth-round pick.
Fitzpatrick, 32, has a strong rapport with Marshall, who had a history of clashing with his quarterbacks. In fact, 11 of Fitzpatrick's 25 touchdown passes have been caught by Marshall.
Those 25 touchdown passes leave Fitzpatrick on the cusp of surpassing Vinny Testaverde's franchise record of 29 touchdown passes set in 1998.
Testaverde said he hopes Fitzpatrick breaks his touchdown mark and that he thinks a record-breaking performance could be something the team could rally around.
"Late in the season, you need that little bit of extra confidence," Testaverde said. "It would be great for them and him. Hopefully, they can do what we weren't able to do in '98 -- make the AFC Championship Game and take that next step and make it to the Super Bowl."
Information from ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini was used in this report.
