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5 teams who could trade for Teddy Bridgewater

By Brad Berreman

FLORHAM PARK, NJ - JUNE 12: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the New York Jets works out during passing drills at mandatory mini camp on June 12, 2018 at The Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
FLORHAM PARK, NJ - JUNE 12: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the New York Jets works out during passing drills at mandatory mini camp on June 12, 2018 at The Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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The New York Jets are sure to showcase Teddy Bridgewater this preseason, and if he’s healthy these five teams should have some interest in a trade.

Due to a significant left knee injury that threatened his career late in the 2016 preseason, Teddy Bridgewater has not played a meaningful NFL snap since a Wild Card playoff game in January of that year. But he is healthy enough to take up a spot on an active roster, with some brief action late last season (two pass attempts, one interception), and the New York Jets took a flier on him in March.

The Jets have virtually no commitment to Bridgewater, with only a $500,000 signing bonus fully guaranteed in a deal reported to be worth up to $15 million. Questions about his health explain that, but the Jets are in line to showcase Bridgewater for a trade this preseason.

Sam Darnold, the No. 3 pick in April’s draft, is the Jets’ quarterback of the future and quite possibly the present if he gets signed, into camp and can win the starting job for Week 1. Josh McCown is back as a veteran mentor and backup, so unless he wins the starting job a fully healthy Bridgewater looks like an unnecessary luxury.

As part of a deep dive into the team’s quarterback situation as training camp gets going, ESPN’s Rich Cimini suggested the Jets are open to trading Bridgewater. If things take shape the way they’d like, with Darnold taking the reigns right out of the gate, the lack of good quarterback depth around the league would create a list of possible suitors for the former first-round pick.

Assuming he gets through camp and the preseason healthy and looking capable, these five teams should have some interest in trading for Bridgwater

Mandatory Credit: David Hahn/Icon Sportswire- Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: David Hahn/Icon Sportswire- Getty Images /

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Philip Rivers has not missed a start since stepping into the gig for the Chargers in 2006. As a testament to what has been behind him in recent years, even if they were never needed, Geno Smith is a more proven backup commodity heading into this year.

Cardale Jones is lingering as a developmental prospect for the Chargers, and a potential successor to Rivers. But if he were to go down this year, any preseason buzz surrounding the team would wither away with each snap Smith had to take.

Bridgewater could be acquired after a healthy preseason, and then theoretically bump Smith off the Chargers’ roster with minimal consequence heading into Week 1.

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