Big Red Louie
Fansided

Former Louisville football stars making moves in NFL Free Agency

By Jacob Lane

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 30: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field after defeating the Carolina Panthers during the first half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 30: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field after defeating the Carolina Panthers during the first half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 28: Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings greets former teammate Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the New Orleans Saints after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Saints defeated the Vikings 30-20. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 28: Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings greets former teammate Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the New Orleans Saints after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Saints defeated the Vikings 30-20. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

Teddy Bridgewater – QB

Re-signed with New Orleans (1 year, $12 million) 

It’s been three years since Teddy Bridgewater was a team’s starting QB, and this offseason it looked like that could come to an end. Bridgewater entered free agency after signing a one year deal with the Jets last season before being traded to the Saints to backup Drew Brees.

Bridgewater appeared in one game for the Saints but it was his preseason with the Jets that left many to believe he could be a starter again.

With a weak QB market and a lot of needy teams, the Dolphins, Redskins, and Jaguars were a few the of the teams people thought might get involved. But it ended up being just the Saints and the Dolphins.

Early reports indicating that Bridgewater was re-signing with New Orleans, but those looked a bit premature after it was announced he would be visiting the Dolphins. The stars looked to be aligning for Bridgewater to return home as the Dolphins new QB and to reunite with college teammate DeVante Parker, but ultimately it wasn’t in the Cards and the 5 year veteran signed a one year deal to return to the Saints.

I have mixed feelings about this deal, but for Teddy it seems he was all in on returning to a team capable of winning a Super Bowl. The biggest reason why I don’t really think this was a smart deal is because Bridgewater passed up what could be his last chance at a starting job. Due to injury and being traded to the Saints, Bridgewater hasn’t been a starter in the NFL in three years. While the Saints offer the hope of one day replacing Drew Brees, his one year deal won’t guarantee anything.

The Dolphins will likely struggle next season, but they needed a starting QB. Bridgewater likely was afraid of being the “lame-duck” starter again, eventually getting passed up by a rookie (which is what happened with the Jets) but it would have given him a chance to show he’s capable of playing each and every week.

It’s hard to knock Bridgewater for the decision he made as he felt like New Orleans was the perfect situation for him to continue his career. After re-signing with the Saints Bridgewater spoke for the first time about his decision, saying:

"“Everything I experienced last year really came into play,. The atmosphere, the coaching staff, the players in that locker room, the fans and the city, how they welcomed me. It just came into play and made the process a little easier.”"

Bridgewater could do enough in his next season with New Orleans to prove he’s the guy post Drew Brees, but for now it’s a big if. 

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