The Bucs should make a play for Teddy Bridgewater

Yes, this has been brought up on numerous social media outlets, forums, and fan pages. However, when you take a look at the grand scheme, the Buccaneers putting together a deal for Teddy Bridgewater makes a ton of sense.

Before we go any further, no, I am not suggesting the Bucs replace Winston with Bridgewater. But having Teddy on the roster now could pay off in the long term.

Bridgewater signed a one year, $6-million dollar contract with the New York Jets during free agency, only to see Josh McCown retained as well as the drafting of Sam Darnold. It would seem likely that McCown will make the roster as the mentor to Darnold and Darnold would likely take over as the starter during the season. Anymore, first round rookie quarterbacks don’t ride the pine for long if at all.

This could mean Bridgewater would be the odd man out.

Once training camp begins there is the chance Bridgewater asserts himself ahead of McCown on the depth chart but the questions surrounding his knee are big ones.

All that said, Bridgewater in Tampa Bay makes a lot of sense, both in the short and long term.

For the first three weeks of the season the Bucs will see Ryan Fitzpatrick under center with Ryan Griffin backing him up while Jameis Winston serves a suspension. Griffin has never taken a snap in a meaningful NFL game and would become the only quarterback available should Fitz go down.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a recipe for disaster.

Adding Bridgewater to the team gives the Buccaneers a proven starting quarterback to step in should the need arise and would also allow him to build a rapport with the offense for the future. Yes, I am suggesting that the Buccaneers retain Bridgewater as Winston’s backup after 2018.

Now, the Buccaneers would have a contingency plan in place should ownership decide it’s time to move on from Winston and not offer him a second contract. This would mean the Bucs wouldn’t have to go through the draft and develop nonsense with a rookie quarterback (AGAIN) and the offense would still be able to perform at a high level with the talent they currently have.

Again, I am not suggesting Winston should be shown the door, but we have to accept that as a possibility moving forward. If Winston slips up one more time he is facing a one year suspension and would likely be shown the door out of One Buc Place.

Bridgewater has a career record of 17-11 as a starter, finishing his sophomore campaign at 11-5 with seventeen total touchdowns and nine interceptions. He’s been to the postseason - a 10-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks thanks to one of the most hideous last second field goal attempts in the history of the world - and was on the rise in Minnesota.

The knee is the kicker and we are all unsure as to whether or not he will bounce back to be the player he once was. At this point, it’s worth the risk.

The compensation won’t be more than a day three pick given the contract and the health concerns. You could also look at the Bucs offering Adam Humphries and a pick for Teddy Bridgewater and a pick. This would give the Jets a reliable passing target for both McCown and Darnold and allow the Buccaneers to include Chris Godwin into the offense more as he emerged towards the end of 2017.

When you take a look at the present situation as well as the big picture, Bridgewater to the Bay makes a whole lot of sense.