3 reasons why Teddy Bridgewater should not start in 2021

Teddy Bridgewater should not start for the Carolina Panthers in 2021.

It was not the season that Teddy Bridgewater envisaged when he joined the Carolina Panthers in free agency. The quarterback worked exceptionally hard to come back from the brink and earn another starting chance in the NFL. But his distinct lack of production throughout the 2020 campaign has left plenty questioning whether he is the man to lead the organization moving forward.

It was never going to be easy following in Cam Newton‘s footsteps, especially considering the way he was ruthlessly removed from the roster late in free agency. However, one cannot look at the way Bridgewater has performed with any great sense of confidence and the coaching staff must now look at better options.

Carolina had every right to move on from Newton, even though it was handled terribly.

But giving a quarterback who hadn’t occupied a consistent starting position since 2015 a three-year, $63 million deal with a $15 million signing bonus and $33 million guaranteed was mind-boggling.

Here are three reasons why Bridgewater should not be Carolina’s starter in 2021.

Reason No. 1

Lack of conviction in the clutch

The Panthers have been largely competitive against some top teams this season, something that few expected in the first year of their pretty substantial rebuild. However, Teddy Bridgewater’s inability to come through when it matters most is something that has been a significant problem during his first season under center in Carolina.

Bridgewater was 0-8 on game-winning or tying drives in 2020.

Not good enough by any stretch of the imagination.

Carolina’s record would look far different had Bridgewater been able to come through in even half of these situations. If the Panthers want to be realistically considered in the postseason discussion next time around, this is a critical area that needs to improve.