Teddy Bridgewater faces biggest decision of his career ahead.. again

Can Teddy be a starter?

Why not? If the Mitchell Tribusky’s, Jacoby Brissett’s, Nick Foles’, and Ryan Fitzpatrick’s of the NFL world can continue to get starting quarterback opportunities year-after-year, why can’t Teddy Bridgewater?

The knee injury that Bridgewater suffered back in 2016 has played a factor with free agency prospects over the last two seasons, mostly due to teams not having seen no. 5 on the field playing meaningful snaps.

This offseason that won’t be an excuse as Bridgewater appeared in eight games this season, starting in five and of course, handing the reigns back over to Brees having won five games in a row.

Bridgewater’s overall record sits currently at 22-12, having won 17 games as a starter for two seasons in Minnesota, including the run to the 2016 playoffs. Bridgewater has much better weapons around him now than he did then, in Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, as well as a vastly-improved defense and a quarterback minded coach. We’ve heard about Payton’s love and affection for Bridgewater, and I think that’s what could make him a great fit as the long-term starter in New Orleans.

While he’s never going to be a guy who can win games almost single-handily, he’s an elite-level game manager, who with the right weapons can be an upper to mid-tier starting quarterback in the NFL.

In the right situation, whether it be New Orleans, New England, Indianapolis or another team, Bridgewater must have a strong offensive line, a supportive run-game, and weapons on the outside who can make plays without a superstar quarterback.

That won’t fit the bill of every team, but for an organization either already competing at the top level or one capable of getting there, Bridgewater is an ideal, quick-fix starter who can produce from day one, and be a great representation of the franchise.

The prediction

So what is going to actually end up happening with Teddy Bridgewater in 2020? Here’s my best guess.

I believe there is more than a 75 percent chance that Bridgewater re-signs with the New Orleans Saints, in either a franchise tag capacity or a long-term contract.

Luke Johnson said it best when sharing his recent article on Bridgewater’s 2019 season when he said:

“You can’t tell the story of the Saints 2019 season without Teddy Bridgewater, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that you can’t tell Teddy’s story without New Orleans.

As Bridgewater told Johnson, “I feel like my personality, my foundation, it fits well with the city.”

If there’s one thing we know about Teddy, it’s that he’s an incredible human being. He is a guy who seems to value intrinsic things over money, fame, or clout. And when you consider the fact that New Orleans traded for him from New York, showing they really wanted him, even with a ton of questions surrounded his knee, Bridgewater shows a level of gratitude that is bigger than football.

Not to mention, it seems like he’s enjoyed himself quite a bit since landing there. Whether it was the dancing in the playoffs in 2019 or even chasing his teammates down the sideline in-game to celebrate a big play.

The end of Drew Brees’ career is inevitable, and while I think the Saints had reservations about Bridgewater being the long-term starter in 2018-19, this year those are out the window. Not only did Bridgewater show the ability to win, but he did so against good teams. Seattle, Dallas, Tampa Bay, and Chicago were formidable opponents, and Bridgewater led his team to wins with all the pressure on him.

If the Saints truly believe Bridgewater can step in after Brees retires and keep the Saints competing for Super Bowls every year, they ought to pay him. Fortunately for Teddy, I believe they do and they will.