QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Buffalo Bills
Height: 6-2 3/8; Weight: 225; Speed: 4.87

Notes: Was drafted in the seventh round (250th overall) by St. Louis in 2005 out of Harvard after having been named Ivy League Player of the Year as a senior and became the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300 yards in his debut, leading the Rams to a 33-27 overtime win at Houston after injuries to Marc Bulger and Jamie Martin forced him into the lineup late in the season as a rookie. Finished starting 3-of-4 games and completing 76-of-135 passes (56.3 percent) for 777 yards, four TDs and eight interceptions. Saw action in only one game in '06, without attempting a pass, and was traded to Cincinnati on Sept. 1, 2007. Did not record any stats in his first year with the Bengals, before being thrust into the lineup in late September of '08 to replace the injured Carson Palmer, starting 12-of-13 games and tossing 221-372-1,905-8-9 (59.4). Was signed by the Bills as an unrestricted free agent on opening day of free agency in '09 and stepped in to replace the injured Trent Edwards in Week Six. Has started 6-of-8 games, having been named the starter when Perry Fewell replaced Dick Jauron as the interim head coach, and completed 94-177-1,089-5-9 (53.1) in '09.

Positives: Has a strong stature with a good, solid build and enough athletic ability and foot quickness to slide, step up in the pocket and buy some time with his feet. Nice scrambling ability. Is quick to scan the field. Smart, can handle a complex offense with minimal reps and understands how to work through progressions. Good short accuracy and touch. Takes the game very seriously and is a determined, hardworking competitor. Very mature and will represent a team well in the community.

Negatives: Average pocket awareness — could do a better job feeling pressure and getting rid of the ball under duress. Tends to stare down receivers, telegraph his passes and force the ball into coverage. Has an inconsistent release point and accuracy. Needs to step into his throws to put velocity on the ball; cannot drill the deep out and struggles to place the intermediate and deep ball. Needs to do a better job protecting the football and has had a tendency to lose it too frequently. Does not have a commanding on-field presence.

Summary: A smart, serviceable backup quarterback most ideally suited for a dink-and-dunk, West Coast offense, Fitzpatrick has shown he can be effective in relief, leading the Bills to a victory against the Jets when he came off the bench in his first action of the season. He can be trusted to get a team through a game. However, he has not proven he can command an offense from the pole position and still too often shows up like a deer in headlights behind a battered offensive line, not showing the poise or decision-making desired in a front-line passer.

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