There is once again a lot of attention being given to star quarterbacks that could potentially be on the move this offseason. The chatter is even louder this offseason because there aren’t as many alternatives readily available to acquire. Teddy Bridgewater is an intriguing name to keep an eye on and teams like the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints could have interest in him.
Free agency is lacking many high-end options, while this year’s draft class is not considered to be overly strong either. As a result, teams with a need at the quarterback position could be looking at stopgap, one-year options at the position.
One of the players that are in a solid spot heading into free agency is Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater has shown that while not elite, he is a serviceable starter in the NFL. He has a winning record in his career at 33-30, as the one-year stint with the Carolina Panthers, when he went 4-11 in 2020, is the only losing season of his career.
Numerous teams will be in the market for him as he can be a starter, but also has experience as a high-end backup as well. He went 5-0 in relief of Drew Brees in 2019 and is good enough that he can challenge an incumbent starter for a job.
The Saints need a quarterback once again this offseason and Bridgewater could be on their radar. He has experience already with the organization and would be a solid replacement should Jameis Winston leave in free agency. Taysom Hill was solid filling in, but it is fair to question how much of a role he would have with the Saints without Sean Payton as head coach.
That is why the Cleveland Browns are one team that has been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Bridgewater. Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has not quite lived up to the expectations of a first overall pick. The Browns could bring in a veteran such as Bridgewater to try and push him to newer heights, and if he falls short, they know the veteran can at least step into the starting role.
Another team to keep an eye on is their AFC North rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh is embarking on a new era with Ben Roethlisberger retiring this offseason, leaving a hole at the quarterback position for the first time since 2004, which is when the Steelers selected Roethlisberger in the first round.
Mason Rudolph is the only quarterback currently on the roster and the team wants to bring back Dwayne Haskins as well. There have been plenty of reports linking the Steelers to quarterbacks in this year’s class, namely Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett. If neither is ready to start off the bat, Bridgewater is a solid stopgap unless the team is truly confident enough in Rudolph.
Bridgewater’s experience as a starter and backup will assuredly make him a popular target this offseason. Any team that strikes out on a trade could be looking to him as the next best option available this year.
