Are the Carolina Panthers stalling on Teddy Bridgewater trade?
By Dean Jones
Why are the Carolina Panthers stalling?
One would expect the Carolina Panthers to welcome any trade suitors for Teddy Bridgewater with open arms considering their clear lack of confidence in the quarterback. But the NFL is a complicated business and there is a multitude of different factors in play here.
Firstly, the Panthers might be using Bridgewater as possible bait to land a preferred target such as Deshaun Watson. The Houston Texans haven’t been fielding any calls regarding a potential deal as yet, with both parties appearing to be digging in for a long, drawn-out saga that doesn’t reportedly have a deadline, according to NFL Network’s insider Ian Rappaport.
Waiting around for Watson comes with its own set of complications with other teams looking for better options under center. Once organizations start looking in a different direction it leaves the Panthers with less in the way of options – and that includes a move away from the team for Bridgewater.
There is also Bridgewater’s contract to consider, which still has two years and $37 million in base salary remaining on it. Teams are probably reluctant to take on this sort of financial burden in the current climate, especially considering how inconsistent the former first-round pick performed overall.
This is an ever-changing situation and a powder keg that could go off at any moment. Carolina needs to be ready at a moment’s notice for almost every eventually when it comes to their pursuit of a new quarterback, which will come with an undoubted domino effect Bridgewater’s way.