Jets sights are set on acquiring Teddy Bridgewater

The New York Jets missed out on free agent Kirk Cousins and now have to resort to Plan B. Sources confirmed that the Jets have their sights on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

It’s okay to be angry for 24 hours Jets fans, then we have to get back on the saddle and be encouraged by the Jets upcoming moves. The Minnesota Vikings are going to sign Kirk Cousins, the Denver Broncos will sign Case Keenum, the Arizona Cardinals will sign Sam Bradford, and the New York Jets are more likely than not going to sign Teddy Bridgewater. News broke out earlier today in an article written by Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, that Bridgewater and the Jets are working on a deal.

The former 1st round pick by the Minnesota Vikings out of the University of Louisville, Bridgewater, will likely join the Jets. Bridgewater played once this past season, in a meaningless game, after completely tearing his left ACL and dislocated the knee as well.

Bridgewater is a former first-round pick who had extreme upside prior to his disgusting non-contact knee injury in August of 2016, and now no one truly knows about his knee beside the Vikings. I wouldn’t worry too much about the injury, I think if the Jets sign him, then he is healthy.

In two full seasons and two attempts in 2017, Bridgewater has started 28 games and played in 30. Bridgewater is 551/851, having a 64.7 percent throwing percentage, 6,150 yards, 7.2 yards per attempt, 28 throwing touchdowns and 22 interceptions, he’s been sacked 80 times, and finally has fumbled 11 times but only lost three of those.

Looking at his statistics, Bridgewater improved in 2015 after his 2014 rookie season, having a better QB rating and fewer interceptions. He hasn’t been given the reigns as a starter since the 2015 NFC playoffs, and no one knows how it will affect him playing in windy New Jersey instead of a dome in Minnesota.

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Bridgewater played in Louisville and even played at the University of Minnesota’s stadium while the Vikings’ new stadium was being built, so there is no reason to be worried about him playing in a colder, and outdoor, MetLife Stadium. The Jets need more weapons and a way better offensive line for the mobile and shorter Bridgewater.

Now although you may be upset at the fact the Jets didn’t sign Cousins, Bridgewater is extremely cheaper, has a lot more to prove, and can be a great mentor for a younger quarterback if the Jets decide to draft one. Josh McCown will be back in this scenario, as the Jets are fully expected, at least by myself, to draft a rookie quarterback.

The Jets should now focus on signing some of their own guys, including middle linebacker Demario Davis, corner Morris Claiborne, and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, among others.

Will the Jets get a quarterback in the draft? Yes, they have to. With Bridgewater’s knee injury history, I think Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, and or Josh Allen will be on the board when the Jets pick at the sixth overall pick. Which guy makes the most sense to learn under, and or compete with, Bridgewater? Mayfield or Allen is best for the Jets long-term in this particular situation.

I think Bridgewater is exactly what his name entails, he’s going to be a bridge for the future Jets franchise quarterback, whoever they draft come April. Now, if Bridgewater does well next season, who knows what that will mean for the future of the Jets, but that is a what if situation.

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Finally, the upside to Bridgewater over Cousins is less money spent on a quarterback, the downside is the talent is nowhere the same between these two guys. This works out for the Jets long-term as they don’t have 30+ million a year dedicated to a quarterback who’s never won a playoff game.