Despite a disappointing season, the Panthers have gotten some interest in their starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. They came close to trading him to the Lions in the failed Matt Stafford deal. NFL Network has also reported that they’ve gotten other calls but they’re going nowhere right now.
So, who might be interested in a quarterback with a bloated contract who struggled in 2020? Apparently, the 49ers for one. According to Joe Person at the Athletic, San Francisco is among the teams who have called about a potential Bridgewater deal.
“San Francisco is among the teams that have called Carolina to gauge the Panthers’ interest in potentially trading Bridgewater, according to league sources. San Francisco general manager John Lynch indicated last week the 49ers would like to find a solid backup as insurance for oft-injured starter Jimmy Garoppolo.”
Bridgewater’s cap number for this year is almost $23 million, which is an awful lot for a backup quarterback. That said, he might be the most-qualified No. 2 option in the NFL assuming Jameis Winston is a starter wherever he winds up playing in 2021. Also, if anyone can get the best out of Bridgewater it would be Kyle Shanahan, who turned Matt Ryan into a league MVP and has made Jimmy Garoppolo look half-decent at times.
Finding a trade partner willing to take on Bridgewater is an important piece of the puzzle this offseason. Carolina needs to make room for a new QB, especially if they’re intent on trading for a veteran with a huge contract like Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson. It will be interesting to see if they can find a buyer these next few weeks.
