Is This Teddy Bridgewater’s Breakout Year?

With the 32nd pick of the 2014 NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

Since hearing his name called on draft day, Bridgewater has flashed potential to be one of the league’s premier quarterbacks. He has lead game winning drives and took his team to the playoffs in 2015, but has yet to make it a consistent performance.

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Laquon Treadwell (Mississippi) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number twenty-three overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

While the other quarterbacks of his draft class have enjoyed luxuries in the passing game, Bortles to Allen & Allen and Carr to Crabtree & Cooper, Bridgewater’s only bright spot in his last two years has been Stefon Diggs. A favor was added in the first round as the Vikings selected Laquon Treadwell with the 23rd pick, and he looks like the kind of go to receiver that Bridgewater’s been looking for. At 6’2 and 220 pounds, Treadwell has all the tools to be Bridgewater’s favorite target. At Ole Miss, the former Rebel was able to amass over 2,300 yards receiving in his career and over 20 touchdowns. He suffered a season ending leg injury in 2014 but was able to make it back on the field for his junior season where he was once again able to dominate the SEC. With no signs of the injury making a large impact on his 2015 campaign, he should be more confident in the injury for his first season in an NFL uniform.

Jan 28, 2016; Kahuku, HI, USA; Team Irvin quarterback Teddy Bridgewater of the Minnesota Vikings (5) throws a pass during practice for the 2016 Pro Bowl at the Turtle Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The idea that Bridgewater now has true receiving options in Diggs and Treadwell should boost his game this upcoming season. The past two years he’s had a true wide receiver by committee program without anybody to be relied on. Stefon Diggs stepped up in the early part of the year but disappeared at times down the stretch. Still, Diggs was able to account for 720 receiving yards on 52 receptions. Treadwell will hopefully be what Charles Johnson was supposed to be in 2015. He’ll have an opportunity to be Bridgewater’s main threat down the field and an addition to Kyle Rudolph as a redzone target.

Bridgewater will once again have help in the running game from Adrian Peterson and a talented spell back in Jerick McKinnon. He’ll need a strong running presence if he wants to lower the pressure in the backfield as he’s been constantly under fire since his first season with the Vikings. They went out of their way to add Andre Smith and Alex Boone in hopes to give Bridgewater more time in the pocket, while also allowing the receivers more time to complete their routes.

No QB has been pressured more this season than Teddy Bridgewater, who has felt heat on 46.7% of his dropbacks.
— PFF (@PFF) January 5, 2016

Teddy Bridgewater has been one of the league’s more accurate passers, despite having a sub par receiving group. He ranked 9th in the league for completion percentage and has actually been one of the top quarterbacks in the league under pressure. Bridgewater has bailed the offense out of more than a few tight situations and he’s shown his worth as a scrambling quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. If given more time and more opportunities, Bridgewater’s game has an opportunity to be one of the best in the league and help the Vikings return to another playoff appearance.

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While nobody’s saying that Bridgewater’s 2014 and 2015 campaigns weren’t good enough, there is hope that he can build on those seasons and have a breakthrough year. Stefon Diggs and Laquon Treadwell should be major boosts to the receiving corps and an offensive line built with reinforcement should keep Bridgewater from running so much. Adrian Peterson is ageless and will more than likely have another successful season as one of the league’s greatest backs. The Vikings have a chance to be one of the better offenses in 2016 and with some of the new additions, it looks like it could have a major impact for their third year quarterback.