Teddy Bridgewater is expected to be the new starting quarterback in Carolina with news of Cam Newton’s departure. NFL insider Chris Mortensen tweeted Tuesday that Bridgewater will be reunited with former New Orleans and current Panthers OC Joe Brady. The two sides are expected to reach a contract in the $60 million dollar range.
Bridgewater proved to be the odd man out in New Orleans.
After reviving his career with the Saints, the 27-year-old unrestricted free will reportedly be heading to the Carolina Panthers.
Bridgewater started five games for the Saints in 2019 due to a Drew Brees thumb injury. In those games, he averaged 241 yards passing and threw for nine touchdowns, leading the team to a perfect 5-0 record.
Bridgewater displayed that he is more than capable of leading a team as a full-time starting quarterback—and the Panthers took note.
Given the size of his contract, it is a virtual guarantee that Bridgewater will enter the offseason as the starter for Carolina and new head coach Matt Rhule, despite what the team opts to do in the draft. The Panthers are reportedly exploring trade possibilities for 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton.
It appears as if the Saints have chosen to continue to groom Taysom Hill as the future of the organization under center. Brees’ announcement that he would be returning to the team this offseason (he recently signed a two-year, $50 million contract to remain in New Orleans) made it challenging to keep both Bridgewater and Hill according to head coach Sean Payton in late January.
“It’s going to be hard for us to have all three of those guys back on the same roster. That’s going to be very difficult,” says Sean Payton on ESPN’s First Take. “Bridgewater, Taysom, and Drew — I think that’s unrealistic.”
Bridgewater will be suiting up for his fourth NFL team since being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014. While with the Vikings in his sophomore season, he was able to lead the team to a playoff berth, throwing for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season. He suffered a gruesome knee injury early in the 2016 season, which proved to be a major roadblock in his career.
Despite facing what seemed like overwhelming odds, Bridgewater was able to come back from the brutal injury to revitalize his once-promising NFL career.
Bridgewater and Rhule are both hoping the former Louisville standout proves to be the long-term answer in Carolina.
Follow me on twitter @willhalbz for more sports updates and news.
More from The Woody Paige Sports Network:
- Jeremy Roenick shares legendary Michael Jordan gambling story
- Betting Odds For Where Philip Rivers Will Play In 2020
- Here’s who Vegas is picking to win the 2020 Masters
- Johnny Manziel takes shot at upstart XFL
- Peter King: Jameis Winston could land with Steelers or Raiders
- Report: Ryan Tannehill reaches contract agreement with Tennessee Titans
- Report: Dallas Cowboys use exclusive franchise tag on Dak Prescott
- Tom Brady free agency market reportedly down to 3 teams
- Texans trade DeAndre Hopkins to Cardinals for David Johnson
