Former first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater will soon become a member of the New York Jets, according to reports.
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater isn’t Kirk Cousins, but he’s going to be the newest New York Jets quarterback once the NFL’s league year officially begins on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
Teddy Bridgewater plans to sign a one year deal with the Jets Wednesday, per source
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 14, 2018
Bridgewater, 25, will be coming in as the backup to veteran Josh McCown, who will re-sign with the Jets and has been promised the starting job. But McCown, 39, has started at least 10 games in a single season only three times over his 15-year career.
So Bridgewater certainly could see some action under center for Gang Green in 2018.
Selected 32nd overall by the Vikings in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Louisville, Bridgewater looked like one of the NFL’s brightest young quarterbacks.
From 2014 to 2015, he completed 64.9 percent of his passes (551-of-849) for 6,150 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. He led the Vikings to a 17-11 record in the 28 games he started.
But he suffered a gruesome knee injury during a non-contact drill in late August 2016, dislocating his knee and tearing his ACL, among other things. That essentially cost him two full seasons, as he didn’t make another regular-season appearance until Week 15 last season, a quick cameo in Minnesota’s blowout Week 15 victory over Cincinnati.
While questions remain about his ability to perform at a high level after suffering what could have been a career-ending injury, this is a shrewd move by general manager Mike Maccagnan and the Jets.
Nobody knows if McCown can replicate his career-best season from a season ago and he’s most definitely not the team’s long-term answer at the position. Nobody knows if Bridgewater is either—but entering his age-25 season, he could be.
After losing out on Cousins, who, ironically, is headed to Bridgewater’s former club in Minnesota, the Jets wind up with a younger quarterback with upside—one who didn’t command a long-term commitment.
If he works out, the Jets can look to re-sign him. If not, it’s no harm, no foul.
