3 teams that should trade for Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy's back.
The New York Jets quarterback impressed again in his second appearance of the preseason, completing 10 of his 15 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown and an interception Thursday night. Stats aside, Bridgewater looked poised, confident, and calculating - the gruesome 2016 knee injury that put his career in jeopardy a distant memory.
The Jets appear intent on starting either veteran Josh McCown or rookie Sam Darnold to open the season. However, signing Bridgewater to a one-year, $6-million deal appears to have been a rare sage move by the franchise. It could end up getting great value via a trade or a compensatory pick if the QB signs elsewhere after the season.
In the present, there's no shortage of teams that could use a quarterback of Bridgewater's quality. Here are three that should be reaching out to the Jets:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In Jameis Winston, the Buccaneers have a talented yet inconsistent quarterback with character issues. In a make-or-break season for the franchise, it'll be without Winston for the first three games due to a suspension for inappropriately touching an Uber driver.
Winston is only signed on for the 2019 season via the fifth-year option in his rookie contract. If the Bucs decide he isn't worth the trouble, they can cut him before the first day of the 2019 league year and save the $20 million he's scheduled to make.
In Bridgewater, Tampa Bay could land the young franchise quarterback it's been searching for. Still just 25 years old, Teddy is a far more consistent passer, having completed 64 percent of his career passes compared to Jameis' 60 percent. He's also much less turnover-prone, having given up the ball 25 times in two seasons as a starter to Winston's 59 turnovers in three years.
If the Bucs complete a trade for Bridgewater before the regular season starts, he could slide in behind Ryan Fitzpatrick for the first three games and then push Winston for the role of franchise quarterback going forward.
Denver Broncos
Broncos general manager John Elway is considering bringing aboard an experienced backup to Case Keenum. He should look no further than Bridgewater.
The Broncos lack confidence that either Paxton Lynch or Chad Kelly would thrive if thrown into the fire in live action. Lynch has disappointed in prior regular seasons and this preseason, while Kelly just made his NFL debut in last week's preseason game.
Surely, Keenum is tired of having quarterbacks breathe down his neck, as Bridgewater did last season. But the reality is, if Keenum succumbs to an injury, or reverts to his pre-2017 form, the Broncos will need a quarterback capable of keeping the train on the tracks.
Denver's defense remains formidable enough to keep the team in contention in the wide-open AFC West. The acquisition of Bridgewater could put Lynch's nerves - and those of Broncos fans everywhere - at ease.
Miami Dolphins
Bridgewater has the talent to compete for the Dolphins' starting role, but the Miami native would likely slot in as the backup.
David Fales and Brock Osweiler are currently competing for that role in a battle that head coach Adam Gase said will take all of training camp to decide. In his four-year career, Fales has appeared in three games. And Osweiler, after bouncing around from Houston to Cleveland to Denver last year, went 10-for-21 and 83 yards in his first appearance with the Dolphins last week.
Miami is just getting Ryan Tannehill back into the fold after he missed the entire 2017 season with a torn ACL. But while he's been fully cleared and appears healthy, his mobility may be an area of concern. Like the Broncos, the Dolphins need a backup quarterback who inspires confidence.
Bridgewater is one year further in his recovery from a knee injury of his own. However, in limited preseason action, he's shown all systems are go.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)