Report: Ex-Jet Sanchez Traded To Broncos
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mark Sanchez is heading to Denver.
The Broncos acquired the former Jets quarterback from the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday for a 2017 conditional draft pick. The move was first reported by KUSA out of Denver.
Sanchez spent his first five NFL seasons with the Jets before signing with the Eagles prior to the 2014 season. Primarily a backup, Sanchez started 10 games with Philadelphia, winning four.
Sanchez, who led the Jets to the AFC Championship game during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, has thrown for 15,126 yards in his career, along with 86 touchdowns and 84 interceptions. He is due $4.5 million in base salary in 2016.
Following completion of the trade, Broncos general manager John Elway issued a tweet that seemed to suggest that another move for a quarterback will be coming.
Acquired QB Mark Sanchez for a conditional '17 pick. He brings veteran leadership & will compete. This is the 1st step in our process.
— John Elway (@johnelway) March 11, 2016
Who that signal-caller will be remains the million-dollar question and will likely impact the Jets' plans for the 2016 season. New York has been at an impasse in contract negotiations with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick for several weeks, prompting the 11-year veteran to gauge his value in free agency.
There have been reports linking Fitzpatrick to the Broncos, though many believe Denver would be more inclined to trade for disgruntled San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is five years younger than Fitzpatrick.
The Jets reportedly offered Fitzpatrick, who set the franchise's single-season touchdown pass record in 2015 with 31, a three-year deal for around $21 million. Those terms were met by swift rejection from the Fitzpatrick camp. It is believed that he is seeking a deal closer to the $18 million average per year secured this offseason by both Sam Bradford and Brock Osweiler.
Bradford signed a two-year, $36 million pact with the Eagles prior to free agency and Osweiler spurned the Broncos for a four-year, $72 million deal from the Houston Texans on Wednesday.
The Osweiler move was a big blow to the Super Bowl champion Broncos, who had hoped to pencil him in as the heir apparent to the retired Peyton Manning.
The Jets have been doing their due diligence on the quarterback front while waiting for the Fitzpatrick situation to play itself out. They have reportedly been linked to Kaepernick, Houston quarterback Brian Hoyer and free agent Robert Griffin III.
Griffin was reportedly set to visit the Jets on Friday.