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3 Teams That Can Afford to Sign Teddy Bridgewater as Their Franchise Quarterback

By Jason Schandl

Teddy Bridgewater free agent destinations could include the Colts, who have a ton of cap space.
Teddy Bridgewater free agent destinations could include the Colts, who have a ton of cap space. / Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
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Drew Brees announced that he is returning to the New Orleans Saints for the 2020 season on Tuesday, and that all but confirms that Teddy Bridgewater will be playing elsewhere in the year ahead.

This news also comes just one day after reports that Bridgewater could land a contract worth as much as $30 million per season — something that could limit the number of teams able to make a bid for his services.

Plenty of teams are looking for new quarterbacks this offseason, but not all of them can afford Bridgewater. Here are three teams that have both the cap space and the need to sign Bridgewater as their franchise QB.

1. Indianapolis Colts

Colts WR T.Y. Hilton during a game against the Panthers.
Colts WR T.Y. Hilton during a game against the Panthers. / Bobby Ellis/Getty Images

There's plenty of rumbling that the Indianapolis Colts could be looking to move on from Jacoby Brissett after he filled in following Andrew Luck's sudden retirement ahead of last season. Finances are certainly not an obstacle in doing so, as Indy has the NFL's second-most cap space, behind only the Miami Dolphins. The Colts were the NFL's fifth most run-heavy team in 2019, and Bridgewater's safe, but unexciting numbers (241.0 yards per game, 9 touchdowns, 2 interceptions in five starts in 2019) could gel perfectly with Indianapolis' ball-control offense.

2. Los Angeles Chargers

Keenan Allen catches a pass during pre-game warmups against the Raiders.
Keenan Allen catches a pass during pre-game warmups against the Raiders. / Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Not as flush with cash as the Colts, the Los Angeles Chargers still have above average space (12th-most in the NFL), and with Philip Rivers gone they are absolutely in the QB market. This team is not necessarily in win-now mode after finishing 5-11 in 2019, so a younger QB like Bridgewater could be a good fit. Bridgewater also fits well with the Chargers' top wideout, Keenan Allen. Allen has seen an average depth of target (aDOT) below 10.0 yards in two of the last three years, and Bridgewater favors the underneath passing game, having posted an aDOT of just 6.2 yards in 2019.

3. Tennessee Titans

AJ Brown runs after a catch against the Saints.
AJ Brown runs after a catch against the Saints. / Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

The Tennessee Titans could try to re-sign Ryan Tannehill, but he's likely to be a popular target, and Bridgewater would make for a good consolation prize. Like the Colts did last year, Tennessee clearly favored a run-heavy approach down the stretch, having Tannehill attempt 20 passes or fewer in three of his final four games of the year (including the playoffs). Bridgewater would likely have to start going deep more often to mesh with Tennessee's offense, but Tannehill wasn't exactly a bomber when he joined the Titans either. He jumped from an 8.1-yard aDOT with the Dolphins in 2018 to 9.5 yards last year. Opening up the downfield passing game for Bridgewater, especially with an exciting young WR in AJ Brown, could unlock some of his potential.

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Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.