Ron Rivera distinguished between having needs and being needy throughout free agency.
Since Ron Rivera’s arrival in Washington, he has likened building a successful football team to completing a puzzle.
“We added some other pieces to the puzzle that we just felt that we needed, guys that were going to come in, that were hungry, that were going to compete,” Rivera said last April following the first week of free agency.
“I think what you do is you continue to put the pieces of the puzzle in place, and hopefully build it the right way and put it together the way you need it to be,” Rivera said last month before free agency began.
Rivera’s emphasis on puzzles, however unintentional, provides insight into his team-building process. One player’s weakness is an opportunity to embrace another player’s strength. Last offseason, Rivera was vocal about the holes Washington needed to fill. But in his second season as the Washington Football Team
The biggest move for the Football Team in free agency was signing journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to a one-year deal worth $10 million that could grow to $12 million with incentives. Rivera was drawn to Fitzpatrick because of the ways in which he could improve the team on and off the field.
“He was a guy that when I was in Carolina at one time and we had to compete against him, you always sat there and go, ‘Gosh this guy - there’s something about this guy,’” Rivera said in a media session last week. “It’s going to be intriguing for us to see exactly how it unfolds and how it fits with us.”
The 16-year veteran brings experience to a young football team, having played for eight different teams throughout his career. Fitzpatrick will likely serve as a placeholder until Washington finds its longterm solution under center. But Rivera said that he does not feel pressure to find the team’s next franchise signal-caller immediately.
“If you put all of the other pieces into place and now you start going forward, when that guy does show up, when that guy is in the right position, you can grab him,” Rivera said.
In 2020, the Football Team fielded four different quarterbacks in the regular season and playoffs combined. In his career, Rivera has not yet had to search for a lasting quarterback. In the same year Rivera was named the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton was selected with the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Rivera said that Newton solidified himself as the starter in his first preseason game. Back then, Rivera had to find players to complement Newton. Now, the situation is reversed.
“I’ve always thought if you can do it the other way where you put all of the pieces around and then go out and get your quarterback, that might be a pretty good situation, too,” Rivera said.
The Football Team signed Ryan Fitzpatrick because of his character on and off the football field.
That has been Rivera’s strategy throughout free agency. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has enjoyed a successful first two years in the league but has also been the only consistent offensive threat for the Football Team. The signings of wideouts Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries will add more depth to the receiving corps.
Samuel, formerly a Carolina Panther, brings some much-needed speed to Washington. A teammate of McLaurin’s at Ohio State, Samuel has demonstrated the versatility to run routes outside or in the slot.
“With Curtis, the vertical attack I think is going to be very much a complement to Terry’s game on the outside as well,” Rivera said. “Then, you throw Adam into the mix and Adam working underneath with the tight ends is going to be the other complement that we’re going to have.”
Humphries will fill the role as a true slot receiver for the Football Team, allowing Samuel the freedom to move around. The former Tennessee Titans receiver has only played 19 games over the past two seasons but he has the ability to be an impactful third-down receiver and return punts if needed.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Football Team replaced cornerback Ronald Darby, who agreed to a deal with the Denver Broncos, with William Jackson III. Jackson will work alongside Kendall Fuller to create a strong one-two tandem. He is not necessarily an explosive cornerback as he has only recorded three interceptions in five years, but he adds much-needed depth to Washington’s secondary.
“A lot of it has to do with his ability to take over a side and shut a side down,” Rivera said. “It’s going to add to the things we are currently doing and bring up some of the things that we want to do.”
The four signings of Fitzpatrick, Samuel, Humphries and Jackson filled some of Washington’s biggest needs heading into the offseason. The Football Team will likely continue to add depth on both sides of the ball moving forward. But with the crux of free agency complete, Washington is well-positioned heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, which is three weeks away.
Piece by piece, the puzzle is coming together for Rivera’s Football Team.
