Teddy Bridgewater

Upon the Carolina Panthers hiring Matt Rhule as their next head coach, there was uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position. Were the Panthers going to retain Newton? Or go in a different direction and allow Rhule to start fresh with a new quarterback?

The Panthers chose to do the latter option, signing Teddy Bridgewater to replace Newton under center. While Bridgewater is an efficient passer and gets a chance to reunite with Joe Brady, he may have a tough time succeeding in 2020. First and foremost, Bridgewater is going to be playing behind a shaky offensive line that lost Greg Van Roten and Trai Turner this offseason.

It’s important to note that Bridgewater posted an aDOT (average depth of target) of only 6.2 yards last season — which was the lowest mark in the NFL. Therefore, aside from Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, and Curtis Samuel, the signing of Robby Anderson was a peculiar choice.

Anderson excels as a vertical threat that can create separation with his speed and his underrated route running. But Bridgewater isn’t considered as a quarterback that tends to push the ball down the field. Even though Bridgewater has a decent array of weapons, he’s playing behind a dismal offensive line and his connection with Anderson may leave a lot to be desired. On top of that, Carolina doesn’t have a roster that is set up to win immediately. Given that, it’s hard to envision Bridgewater having a remarkable debut season with the Panthers.