Teddy “Bear” Bridgewater? Why the Chicago Bears could be the perfect fit for Teddy Bridgewater.
2020 NFL Free Agency was already going to be a crazy time for the National Football League with tons of high-level quarterbacks and other star players on the free market, including the league’s most notable star – Tom Brady, along with Teddy Bridgewater, Phillip Rivers, amongst others.
Now with the effects of the Coronavirus impacting the new year in the NFL, including a new CBA that will bring peace to the league for the next decade, free agency is already off to frenzy.
Within a matter of hours after the announcement of the new year teams began being able to reach out to the players who they target as potential fits, and it all starts news wise with the quarterback position.
While we will likely be waiting for at least a few more days on the decision from Brady, former Louisville football quarterback and darling of the free-agent market Teddy Bridgewater already has suitors lining up to pay him – just as I expected he would.
After taking over as the Saints starter in the early part of the 2019 season following an injury to Drew Brees, Bridgewater showed signs of a healthy, franchise-caliber quarterback more than capable of taking a good team far in the playoffs and competing for a Super Bowl.
While his name isn’t as flashy as some the other players on the market, Bridgewater gave the NFL solid proof that the thought of his knee not being ready was inaccurate and his ability to elevate a team’s play wasn’t
The Chicago Bears were a team many thought may make a run at a high-profile quarterback in the offseason and that’s exactly what they seem to have interest in doing. Led by offensive-minded head coach Matt Nagy (from the Andy Reid coaching lineage), the Bears are a team who two years ago showed the potential to be an offensive powerhouse in the NFL but due to the inadequacies of young quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (instead of Lamar Jackson – jokes on them), they took a big step back this past season.
“Talks are underway” between the Bears and Teddy Bridgewater on a deal that would likely make him the starter in Chicago, per @ProFootballTalk pic.twitter.com/YPYxIiNrmd
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 16, 2020
If the Bears really are wanting to move on from Tribusky as a starter, Bridgewater would be a near hand-in-glove fit (see what I did there?). With solid weapons on the offense including Allen Robinson (the poor guy has played with Blake Bortles and now Tribusky) and Anthony Miller at receiver and the emerging young backfield duo of David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen, there’s a group established who just two years ago ranked in the top league-wide in most offensive statistics.
Nagy’s offense was criticized nonstop throughout the 2019 season, rightly so, finishing 28th in total yards, 25th in passing offense, and 29th in total points, and it nearly cost him a job. What could be the difference in the futures of both Nagy and the Bears franchise is signing Teddy Bridgewater. Not only would Nagy be getting a steady, smart, and consistent quarterback, the polar opposite of what he’s had in two seasons, but also a leader in the locker room and more importantly in the city of Chicago.
With Bridgewater’s passing ability and familiarity with a heavy play-action based offense, along with the young core of weapons already in Nagy’s offense, the former Cardinal could be what puts the team over the top in the NFC. With Khalil Mack rushing the quarterback and Bridgewater quarterbacking the offense, the Bears may just be the team to watch in 2020 should he sign in Chicago as reports have indicated.