Buccaneers Free Agent Spotlight: QB Teddy Bridgewater

If you abide by the NFL in the slightest, then you know how crucial the quarterback position is in the grand scheme of issues.

Even the backup position is crucial. I imply, you constantly need a “Plan B” in scenario the poop at any time hits the admirer.

Although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their starter for 2019 in Jameis Winston, there is basically no one particular under contract backing him up at this level.

Which is a massive offer. Outside of personal injury, Winston’s occupation hasn’t been what it was initially anticipated to be after he was selected initial overall in 2015. No matter if it be also many turnovers or lousy selections off the field, the Bucs need somebody back there in scenario issues go awry with Winston.

Enter Teddy Bridgewater. Arguably the most attractive totally free agent quarterback on the current market, he would make a extremely appropriate backup. But can the Bucs get him to Tampa Bay?

TEDDY BRIDGEWATER’S Career

Even while Bridgewater has had a respectable occupation, he is mainly acknowledged for the grotesque knee personal injury that almost cost him his occupation – and his leg – in 2016.

Bridgewater went down on August 30th with a dislocated knee and torn ACL that he endured throughout a Tuesday exercise. It was a gigantic blow to the Minnesota Vikings, who had just gained their initial division title because 2009 the prior period.

In advance of that fateful day, Bridgewater had begun 28 straight video games for the Vikings throughout the 2014 & 2015 seasons. He concluded 65% of his passes for 6,000 yards, 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. His 17 wins in excess of these two seasons were being good for 11th-greatest in the league.

Soon after the personal injury, he didn’t participate in a single snap right up until 7 days 14 of the 2017 period. He threw just two passes in that video game on 9 complete snaps.

Nine complete snaps. In two seasons. You never generally see gamers appear back from stuff like this in the NFL.

It didn’t make his return any a lot easier after journeyman Situation Keenum led the Vikings to a 12-3 document, division title, and NFC Championship berth in 2017. All of the cards were being now formally stacked from Bridgewater staying in Minnesota.

The good thing is, Bridgewater’s intense emphasis and unwillingness to give up landed him a one particular-year/$5 million offer with the New York Jets. Word of his restoration and capacity to participate in started to spread across the league. In advance of he knew it, other teams were being inquiring for his services and he was participating in for the New Orleans Saints prior to the 2018 season.

WHY THE BUCCANEERS Require HIM

With Ryan Fitzpatrick’s extremely uncertain long term, Ryan Griffin’s current absence from the roster, and the unreliability (for the small-phrase) of Winston, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a backup quarterback. And not just any backup, they need one particular that can step in and gain this group video games, not just control them.

Which is since Winston will be suspended indefinitely by the NFL if he screws up off the field yet again. If that were being to take place, then the Bucs could have a probable prolonged-phrase replacement in Bridgewater, should he make your mind up to appear to Tampa Bay.

But Bridgewater is assumed of as starter material in this league and that could lead to a massive payday from yet another group with ample cap area.

Which prospects to the upcoming question…..

WHAT WILL BRIDGEWATER Price?

This is where it gets tricky. Really tricky.

There is no rationale to assume that Bridgewater will want to participate in the backup position yet again. His occupation was budding just before the personal injury and dependent off what the Jets originally signed him for and what the Saints paid out to get him – I’d say the league feels he could start out yet again as nicely.

He’s now two comprehensive seasons eliminated from the knee personal injury, so teams should have minor to no panic about any remaining effects.

The bad 2019 draft course of quarterbacks doesn’t aid the Bucs, possibly. A QB-needy group these types of as the New York Giants or Washington Redskins might turn to Bridgewater as a substitute of a rookie draft pick. Both equally of these teams have a good deal of cap area to spend him a pleasant, prolonged-phrase offer.

Hell, even the Carolina Panthers could get him for a one particular-year offer dependent off the recent information that Cam Newton might sit out the 2019 period with a shoulder personal injury.

And of system, we just cannot rule out the Saints. Even while they currently have $11 million in cap area for 2019, they did make investments a 3rd-round pick in the 26 year aged. Which is a substantial value to have somebody appear in and sit on the bench for a year.

With all that staying said, it is difficult to gauge his current market value. One would assume if he wishes to start out, it will cost a group all-around $10 million per year for his services. If he is relegated to a backup position, then it’d likely be close to the very same volume he produced in 2018, which was all-around $4-$5 million.

WILL IT Occur?

Nah.

There is also a great deal probable for him to start out in this league and there are a handful of teams with enough money and a need at the position, as a result, Tampa Bay likely doesn’t seem to be extremely attractive. The only he way would start out listed here is since of personal injury or yet another screwup by Winston.

Tampa Bay’s cap situation did get far better with the launch of Vinny Curry, but it is nevertheless likely not enough area to indication Bridgewater to the style of money he will be expecting.

So, no starting off position, not enough money, and a getting rid of franchise? Seems like good good reasons to stay clear of the Bay.