NFL
In the biggest trade of the preseason, the New York Jets have sent backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and a 6th round pick to the New Orleans Saints. The Saints will send a third rounder back to the Jets in exchange for Bridgewater. It has been rumored that the Jets have wanted to unload Bridgewater for some time now.
The Jets have an abundance of QBs as they signed Bridgewater this offseason and took Sam Darnold number three overall in this year’s NFL Draft. Both of these additions were added to a QB room that already had journeyman Josh McCown. The trade has major implications throughout the NFL and for the two teams that made the trade.
Compensation update on Jets-Saints trade: New York is sending QB Teddy Bridgewater and a sixth-round pick to New Orleans for a third-round pick, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 29, 2018
What It Means For The Jets And Saints
This trade opens up the Jets’ starting QB job. Most expect that Sam Darnold will take over as the starting QB for the team. He has shown out in the preseason passing for 244 yards and two touchdowns in 45 pass attempts. Bridgewater has looked very good during the preseason. His recent performances have created a QB controversy that needed to be solved before the season started.
The result was the Jets shopping Bridgewater throughout the preseason in hopes they could get compensation for him. With Darnold taking over the starting role, the Jets will have to expect a regression at that position. Darnold had a turnover problem in college, and it is unclear if he has gotten better during this offseason.
For the Saints, this was a debate throughout the offseason on how to prepare the inevitable retirement of Drew Brees. This move hopefully solved the problem as they now have a 25- year-old under contract ready to take over when Brees hangs it up. Some thought that Taysom Hill was the future of the team, but he has not shown that he can be a franchise QB.
With the acquisition of Bridgewater, both Hill and Tom Savage are on the roster bubble and will both most likely not make the team. The Saints also only gave up a third round pick for Bridgewater which is a small price for a potential franchise QB. The trade also brings a large amount of risk as Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury in the 2016 offseason.
Teddy Bridgewater’s Profile
Bridgewater was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. Bridgewater committed to the Louisville Cardinals and would go on to play three years there. His first two years there were very average. In his Junior year, he broke out with 3,970 yards passing, 31 touchdowns compared to four picks.
Bridgewater declared for the NFL Draft after his junior year and was taken 32nd overall. In his rookie year, he passed for 2,919 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to 12 picks. Bridgewater improved in his second year as he was named to the Pro Bowl after passing for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns.
During training camp, Bridgewater suffered a torn ACL, dislocated knee, and other structural damage. This injury would hold him out of the entire 2016 season. Bridgewater signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million with the Jets this past season.
