The idea of Teddy Bridgewater back with the Broncos has fatal flaws
Feb 7, 2022, 6:40 AM
In the last few days, stories have been swirling about the Broncos re-signing Teddy Bridgewater to a two-year, $39-million contract this offseason. The mere thought caused some level of panic in Broncos Country.
The fan base saw enough of the Bridgewater experience in 2021. The idea of another trip around that sun, at a price tag of $20 million this season, isn’t the least bit appealing to most people.
More checkdowns. More punts. Ugh. No thank you.
Of course, the consternation probably isn’t warranted. After all, the story isn’t based on anything put out by the Broncos.
Instead, it stems from an offseason simulation done by ESPN. Trying to forecast what figures to be a topsy-turvy quarterback market once the new league year begins in March, the outlet had every team’s beat writer serve as general manager in an attempt to mock the results.
Denver’s rep was Jeff Legwold. He made a trade offer for Aaron Rodgers, but was turned down by the Packers writer. That left him with limited options.
As a result, Legwold went with plan B (or perhaps Z) and inked Bridgewater to the aforementioned deal. His rationale was simple:
Look, this isn’t the scenario most Broncos’ fans want, but until Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson is actually in the trade market, the Broncos have to have a plan to play in 2022 and move forward. The free-agent class of QBs is ho hum at best, and Bridgewater fits what the Broncos will do on offense. And if Denver does use an early draft pick to select a quarterback, Bridgewater will be the best option as a mentor, as well.
That’s a slightly more palatable scenario. But it’s still wrought with potential pitfalls. Specifically, it has two fatal flaws.
First, it’s based on the idea that the Broncos will draft a QB in the first round. That would allow the veteran to be the bridge quarterback until the rookie is ready to play.
Denver doesn’t pick until No. 9, however. There’s no guarantee the QB they want will still be on the board at that point. In addition, there’s no way to predict if they’ll be able to trade up to get their guy if they have to do so. It take two to tango, as the Broncos found out last year when their attempt to acquire Matthew Stafford fell through.
Free agency starts in March. The draft is at the end of April. So Denver would have to sign Bridgewater before they drafted a QB. That’s risky.
It’s conceivable, perhaps even likely, that the Broncos would be stuck without a quarterback of the future. That would leave Bridgewater and Drew Lock battling for the starting job. Again.
That movie has already played in the Mile High City. Most people wanted to walk out in the middle of it.
A second go around would be brutal. It’d be a tough sell and a lackluster way to kick off the Nathaniel Hackett era.
“We didn’t get Rodgers, so here’s Teddy vs. Drew, part two!”
Hard pass. See you in 2023.
The other problem with this game plan is the premise of Bridgewater being a mentor. Even if the Broncos do draft a quarterback, there’s no evidence to suggest the veteran is a good option for showing the rookie the ropes.
He’s never done it before. He wants to be a starter. He’s a slightly above average player. And he’s only enjoyed a modicum of success in the NFL.
What exactly is he going to pass along to Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral or Malik Willis? How’s he going to make them better?
Bridgewater seems like a nice guy. And by all accounts, he’s a good teammate. But did we witness a lot of mentoring in 2021?
Lock said good things about his fellow QB, but did we see a lot of interaction on the sidelines when they switched roles? Was there a lot of wisdom being passed along?
It sounds like a good idea. It might make sense in theory. But there’s no real-life evidence to suggest it would work.
Contrast Bridgewater to someone like Tyrod Taylor. The veteran QB has served as a bridge to Josh Allen in Buffalo, Baker Mayfield in Cleveland, Justin Herbert in Los Angeles and Davis Mills in Houston.
The Broncos have had well-documented QB issues for six years because they don’t have a plan for the position. Instead, they scramble to try to make short-term, stopgap solutions work.
That’s how they ended up trying to defend a Super Bowl title with a quarterback who had never thrown an NFL pass. It’s how they’ve wound up trotting out the likes of Case Keenum, Joe Flacco and Bridgewater.
Enough is enough.
Trade for Rodgers or Wilson. Draft Pickett, Corral or Willis.
Any of those paths would be fine. They’d be embraced in Broncos Country.
If they fail to materialize, don’t force another journeyman upon the fan base. Please.
Plan C should be to simply go with Lock. Maybe he will blossom under Hackett, as Vic Fangio and Pat Shurmur certainly did him no favors. Or perhaps he will fall flat on his face.
Who cares? At least it’ll be one extreme or the other. It’ll provide hope for the future or a better draft pick in 2023.
The never-ending quest for mediocrity has to stop. Bridgewater is the epitome of those efforts.
It makes no sense to ever bring him back. In real life or an ESPN simulation.
