4 teams who could trade for Teddy Bridgewater as a backup
By Dean Jones
Which teams could possibly trade for Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to improve their backup options?
There doesn’t appear to be much hope of Teddy Bridgewater being a starter for the Carolina Panthers in 2021. The free-agent wasn’t the worst performer in the world, but he simply didn’t do enough in critical moments to be considered a viable long-term option if the team wants to take that next step and become a legitimate Super Bowl contender once again.
That might be a little harsh considering Bridgewater was without star running back Christian McCaffrey for all-but three games. But the Panthers still had four players go over 1,000 all-purpose yards and finished with a 5-11 record.
Simply put, Bridgewater failed to deliver when it mattered most.
And the Panthers aren’t going to wait around to see if the quarterback can turn things around next season.
They are clearly going to be aggressive in pursuit of an upgrade before OTAs roll around. Whether this means giving up the farm to land Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans remains to be seen, with the potential of drafting one of the top prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft not out of the question should the opportunity arise.
Teddy Bridgewater could be a solid backup option elsewhere.
Considering Bridgewater comes with a $20 million dead-cap figure after Carolina gave him a three-year deal last spring makes releasing him out of the question. However, there might be a trade market for the player providing a replacement is found sooner rather than later.
According to reports, teams have called the Panthers to get the lay of the land regarding Bridgewater, which would open things up considerably and possibly give Carolina another draft pick to make use of.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at four teams who could potentially target the former Louisville standout as a primary backup option rather than a starter.
Team No. 1
Miami Dolphins
It would be a huge call for the Miami Dolphins to move on from Tua Tagovailoa after just one season. The former Alabama quarterback showed glimpses of promise, but head coach Brian Flores didn’t hesitate to take the No. 5 overall selection out of the firing line in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick when things weren’t going according to plan.
There are strong rumors linking the Dolphins with a move for Deshaun Watson, which is a definite upgrade on Tagovailoa. But considering how long the signal-caller had been out injured before arriving at the next level, some growing pains were expected.
If they decide to give the player another opportunity in 2021, getting a solid backup option is essential with Fitzpatrick heading onto the free-agent market. Miami has the salary-cap space to absorb Teddy Bridgewater’s contract and he would provide an outstanding role model for Tagovailoa during a critical campaign.