The New England Patriots found out early on Tuesday morning that Tom Brady would not be returning for the 2020 season. With that announcement from the greatest quarterback of all-time, Bill Belichick is now searching for a new starting quarterback.
According to a report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Patriots are interested in signing free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Bridgewater would be exactly the kind of addition that would keep the Patriots relevant. He may not be Brady, but he showed that he can be a legitimate NFL starter for a serious contender last season when Drew Brees went down with a thumb injury.
In the nine games he played on the season, Bridgewater completed 67.9 percent of his pass attempts for 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He started in five games and led the team to wins in all of them.
New England would still have work to do around Bridgewater. Adding more talent at wide receiver would be a must. The Patriots do have solid talent at running back Sony Michel and James White.
At 27 years old, the Patriots would have the opportunity to not only compete now, but also have a franchise quarterback to build around. Bridgewater would be an excellent fit in Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick’s offensive system.
This is something to keep an eye on over the next few hours. Bridgewater is also receiving “strong interest” from the Carolina Panthers. The Patriots may need to make an aggressive move if they want to get Bridgewater.
Expect to hear more news and rumors about the Patriots and Panthers’ interest in Bridgewater soon. New England is making it clear that they are not ready to take a step back in the AFC and Bridgewater would be a way for them to avoid doing that.
