Washington's Fitzpatrick: This is best situation I've had 'as the guy'

Ryan Fitzpatrick played for eight different teams across 16 years in the NFL before joining the Washington Football Team this offseason, but the quarterback believes 2021 might be the most promising opportunity of his career.

"This is the best situation I've ever been in or the best situation that I've ever gone into as the guy," Fitzpatrick said on the ESPN Daily podcast. "I signed to be the starter in Houston, I signed to be the starter in Miami, so this is now the third team that I've signed to come in and be the starter for.

"I just feel like the way that I'm playing the last four years, kind of the progression of my career, it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense that 17 years in, physically, I feel great; mentally, emotionally, I'm in the right spot. I just think I am set up for success this year and really looking forward to it."

Washington won the NFC East last season with a 7-9 record.

The team fielded a playoff-caliber defense that ranked fourth in points allowed per game (20.6) and seventh in turnovers created (23).

However, Washington's passing attack was among the worst in the league, with Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, and Alex Smith all starting multiple contests over the campaign.

The NFC East club finished 25th in passing yards per game (216.6), 28th in passing touchdowns (16), and 29th in passing yards per attempt (6.3).

Fitzpatrick provides Washington with short-team stability at the quarterback position after inking a one-year, $10-million deal in March.

The 38-year-old played some of the best football of his career during 20 starts (plus four appearances) for the Miami Dolphins over the last two seasons.

He finished eighth in QBR in 2019 as Miami's full-time starter and fifth in 2020 while splitting time with then-rookie Tua Tagovailoa.

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