Broncos the “frontrunner” to acquire Bridgewater, says La Canfora
Apr 26, 2021, 3:31 PM
Whether via trade, free agency or the NFL Draft, general manager George Paton said last week the Denver Broncos would bring in competition for Drew Lock at the quarterback position.
On Monday, CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora offered his thoughts on what he thinks will unfold with the Broncos, which includes Paton reuniting with former pupil — and current Carolina Panthers quarterback — Teddy Bridgewater.
“Denver’s the frontrunner to land Teddy Bridgewater, and in the end, I think that’s where Teddy Bridgewater will end up,” La Canfora said on CBS Sports HQ.
Bridgewater, a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2014, played under Paton for three seasons while he was Minnesota’s assistant general manager.
LaCanfora also argued the Bridgewater could make a good fit for Denver because of similarities between Broncos head coach Vic Fangio and Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer — calling both “defensive-minded” and “conservative to their core.”
“… They want to run the ball, they want to play defense and then hit a big play when it’s there. But don’t force it. Don’t turn it over. Don’t be a double agent,” La Canfora said. “That’s what Bridgewater is.”
La Canfora said he could see the Broncos entertaining the idea of taking a quarterback like Justin Fields or Trey Lance should either fall to No. 9 in this week’s draft, but it’s also a spot where Denver could “trade out.”
“All things being equal, if they stay where they are at nine, I think they end up going defense,” La Canfora said.
Among the names LaCanfora mentioned to the Broncos at No. 9 include Penn State inside linebacker Micah Parsons, Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II and South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn.
After a Pro Bowl season in his sophomore campaign with Minnesota, Bridgewater’s tenure with the Vikings essentially came to an end with a non-contact leg suffered during training camp in 2016 that sidelined him that season and much of the next.
Bridgewater would catch on again with the New Orleans in 2018, going 5-1 in six starts for the Saints over two seasons.
Last year, Bridgewater went 4-11 with the Panthers in 15 starts. But earlier this month Carolina traded for New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold — the presumed starter for the team in 2021 — and kicked off the rumor mill for Bridgewater’s services.
