4 worst contracts being paid by the Carolina Panthers in 2021
By Dean Jones
Teddy Bridgewater – Former Carolina Panthers QB
- 2021 salary – $17.06 million
The undisputed worst contract that the Carolina Panthers are shelling out for in 2021 surrounds a player who isn’t even on the roster anymore. Teddy Bridgewater was traded to the Denver Broncos for nothing more than a sixth-round pick one day before the NFL Draft, with the organization having to stump up a significant amount of cash in order for the move to happen.
This should tell you everything about what the Panthers thought of Bridgewater’s production last season. He was unable to take advantage of another starting opportunity, with his failure to come through in clutch moments resulting in an 0-8 record on game-winning or tying drives.
Couple this with hesitancy in the pocket and to stretch the field, and the decision was probably an easy one for Carolina to make.
Even though it came at great expense.
According to Over the Cap, Bridgewater’s dead-cap figure stands at an eye-watering $17.06 million. There appears little doubt Matt Rhule wanted to bring the signal-caller on board, but Marty Hurney’s call to give him a three-year, $63 million deal with a $15 million signing bonus and $33 million guaranteed was astonishing.
Bridgewater is now trying to earn another starting job in Denver. He’ll fight it out with Drew Lock and it appears pretty even at this juncture.