The Panthers are expected to sign Teddy Bridgewater when the league year officially kicks off on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (on Twitter). The two sides are still ironing out the details, but it’ll be a three-year deal in the range of $60MM, Mort hears. 
On Tuesday morning, the Panthers announced that they have given Cam Newton permission to seek a trade. Interestingly, that news caught Newton off-guard – he accused the Panthers of “wordplay” to imply that he wanted out. Either way, Newton will be playing elsewhere in 2020 and Bridgewater will be the club’s starter moving forward.
Bridgewater, who is beloved by just about everyone in NFL circles, worked tirelessly to come back from what could have been a career-ending knee injury. Since moving on from the Vikings, he’s shown that he still has tons of talent to go along with his charisma and leadership.
Last year, he got five opportunities to start in Drew Brees‘ stead and he went undefeated. Now, heading into his age-28 season, the Panthers are hopeful that he can rekindle his early Minnesota magic.
Before the injury, Bridgewater averaged 3,075 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in his first two seasons. With the Saints, he sat for most of the 2018 season before leading the team to a 5-0 record in Brees’ absence last year. While Bridgewater ranked at or near the bottom in multiple Next Gen Stats focused on average air yards, he completed 67% of his passes in 2019.
This also represents an interesting move for a Panthers team that has been linked to a possible run at Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields in 2021. While Bridgewater will be tasked with taking over a team that has lost a lot of talent this year, he profiles as a quarterback talented enough to play Carolina out of the No. 1 or No. 2 draft slots — likely needed to secure Lawrence or Fields — next year.
well take teddy off the board for BB.
Teddy-Mccafferey every game. gonna be deadly
I kinda like this move. Does this take the Panthers out of the Tua/Herbert/Love QB draft debate? It also seems as if they don’t plan on tanking this season so they could land the #1 overall pick in the 2021 draft so they could land Trevor Lawrence.
Good for him. After that injury, dude is a great reclamation story.
He’s head and shoulders above the other backup QBs that were FAs and not going to cripple a teams cap. I hope he does well with his new team.
Cam was playing hurt…is a healthy Teddy really a better QB than a healthy Cam at this point?
can you count on cam staying healthy at this point?
completely agree! I like Teddy but Cam should have still been the answer… And it’s not about money if Teddy is about to get paid $20M/year
He’s been playing “hurt” since that Super Bowl. Yes, he may have been injured, but he’s an I burger with me sauce and a head case.
Cam to NWE
Please, NO!!!!
great pick-up for the money just wish the Cowboys would have done this instead. happy for Bridgewater hopefully ruhle is the right coach for him. and yes this is much better than cam.
Cowboys of course would never think outside the box. They are content paying Dak 35+ a year. Teddy is solid and a great pick up
Bridgewater is just one hit away from a career ending injury. I hope the Panther OL is up to the task of protecting Teddy’s “bad (knee) side”.
U have a soft skull
Pats down to Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Josh Rosen, Nick Foles, Jameis Winston and Phillip Rivers ??
Wouldn’t be surprised if they got Winston or Newton and I think Belichick could win with them (provided they get some weapons via free agency or the draft).
Bears should go for Cam Newton
Who plays the 7-9 games that Newton will be injured?
I’d sign Newton in a New York minute if I knew he’d be available for at least 12 full games.
Big mistake by the Saints to let Bridgewater go.