LA Chargers sign or pass: Teddy Bridgewater
By Faustino Felix
The Los Angeles Chargers are in the market for a new quarterback. Can Teddy Bridgewater replace Philip Rivers as the Chargers’ signal-caller?
Throughout the offseason, I will be writing this series of articles focusing on potential free-agent acquisitions for the Chargers. The first of this series will focus on former Pro Bowl quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Bridgewater started his career with the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him at the end of the first round in the 2014 NFL draft. After a couple of successful seasons in Minnesota, including a Pepsi Rookie of the Year award in 2014 and a Pro Bowl nod in 2015, Bridgewater tore his ACL before the start of the 2016 season.
After a lengthy rehab that saw him miss the entire 2016 season, and most of 2017, Bridgewater was signed in 2018 by the New York Jets, who subsequently dealt him to the New Orleans Saints.
He backed up Drew Brees for the 2018 season and started in the season finale after the Saints locked the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That 2018 Week 17 game was his first start since the 2015 Wild Card round.
In 2019, he had a bigger opportunity to showcase his talent when Brees went down with a thumb injury. Filling in for Brees, Bridgewater went 5-0 as a starter with a 9-2 touchdown to interception ratio.
Now a free agent, Bridgewater finds himself in a tough scenario. He can remain in New Orleans to back up Brees (who is a free agent himself) while taking a pay cut until the eternal quarterback decides to retire.
He can also chase the money, and sign with the suitor of his choosing. The Chargers have been rumored to be one of those suitors. The question is: should the Chargers sign or pass on Bridgewater?