Sam Darnold trade: What is Teddy Bridgewater’s best landing spot?
The Carolina Panthers have made a move for their new starting quarterback, acquiring former third overall pick Sam Darnold from the New York Jets.
This trade has a number of interesting implications for the Carolina Panthers, who did not have to give up any prime 2021 NFL Draft real estate to make this move.
Sam Darnold was certainly a worthwhile gamble, even considering the relatively high price the Panthers paid to get him. Although right now it doesn’t feel like it because of the fact that they are not losing an immediate second-round pick, this price is a good return for the Jets:
With Sam Darnold in the fold what is on the horizon for Teddy Bridgewater and what can the Carolina Panthers realistically expect to recoup for him?
Having just made the move for Sam Darnold, the Panthers’ leverage is shot a little bit, but the fact that Bridgewater had $10 million of his 2021 salary guaranteed certainly doesn’t give the Panthers any additional trade leverage either.
In all likelihood, Bridgewater is going to have to convert some of his 2021 base salary into a signing bonus in order to facilitate any trade, and Panthers GM Scott Fitterer has stated the team is going to find Bridgewater the best possible landing spot.
What is that best possible landing spot?
Although they re-signed Jameis Winston, it could be in New Orleans with the Saints where Bridgewater had success in his brief stint before signing for $63 million in Carolina.
Would these two teams be willing to trade with each other in-division? It’s not impossible and has happened before in the NFL, but it doesn’t seem overly likely.
One option that could make sense? The Washington Football Team.
Washington employs Scott Turner as their offensive coordinator, and Turner worked with Teddy Bridgewater during his last really successful season (2015) in Minnesota with the Vikings.
Although Washington already signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, they have stated that they want to have a competition for that job. Bridgewater would be a solid backup for Fitzpatrick if not a better starting option for Washington.
Another option for Bridgewater would be the Denver Broncos, one of the last teams that has yet to do anything at all at the quarterback position in the last two years.
New general manager George Paton was with the Minnesota Vikings for the last 14 years, which would obviously include the drafting of Bridgewater in the first round back in 2014. Although he did not throw but two passes (including an interception) for Pat Shurmur in Minnesota, he’s been in Shurmur’s quarterback room and offense for a season and would have familiarity there as well.
The Los Angeles Chargers have a coaching connection for Bridgewater in Joe Lombardi, their new offensive coordinator. The Chargers did sign Chase Daniel as a backup, but Bridgewater would be a marked upgrade over him in case anything happens to Justin Herbert.
Expect one of these teams to be the next to sign the former first-round pick Bridgewater.