AFC East Notes: Jets, Bridgewater, Patriots

Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater should have trade value for other clubs in need of help under center, ESPN.com’s Mike Sando writes. At least one anonymous executive agrees with that assessment.

Bridgewater is the one that makes the most sense,” an exec said of Bridgewater while weighing his trade value against other potentially available QBs. “He has upside, the Jets already have a young guy they love and a veteran who makes them competitive, and that veteran has less value to anyone else.”

That executive went on to say that Bridgewater would especially make sense for a club with additional compensatory choices in the future. Such a team could afford to deal for the former Vikings QB, even if the cost was as high as a third-round pick. Speculatively, Sando wonders if the rival Patriots could have interest in Bridgewater since they are flush with comp picks in 2019 and could use a QB to groom as Tom Brady‘s eventual replacement.

On the flipside, a different exec said that Bridgewater’s contract could be a barrier to a trade. With $5MM in salary and a $250K bonus for every game in which he plays at least 50% of the snaps, that anonymous decision maker feels that Bridgewater is a better candidate for a release or pay reduction.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • Jets GM Mike Maccagnan says edge rusher/outside linebacker is “an area we’re focused on,” (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini). Maccagnan added that he will explore waiver wire and trade possibilities throughout the preseason, while also evaluating his own young players.
  • The Patriots have several questions of their own at linebacker, Doug Kyed of NESN.com writes. Right now, Kyed sees Dont’a Hightower, Brandon King, and Kyle Van Noy as the only true locks for the final cut. He also expects Ja’Whaun Bentley, Marquis Flowers, Nicholas Grigsby, Harvey Langi and Elandon Roberts to make the 53-man roster, but it wouldn’t be a shocker to see any of them left out. All in all, Kyed feels it’s a thin group, so one has to imagine the Patriots will explore signings or trades to bolster the unit.
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