Drew Brees announced on his Instagram that he is coming back for another season, likely in New Orleans, and that will likely lead to at least one of his backups signing elsewhere in free agency. With Taysom Hill being restricted and likely having a higher-round tender on him, Teddy Bridgewater seems to be the one looking for a new home, and Foxboro could certainly be it.
Bill Belichick has had an interest in Bridgewater in the past. Prior to the draft in 2014, the Patriots brought the Louisville quarterback in for a visit, one of only 30 allowed visits. So, it would only make sense that he would still have some interest in this scenario.
It seems like Bridgewater is the type of player that would succeed in New England. On Adam Schefter’s podcast, as a teammate, Hill described Bridgewater, saying, “He’s not going to cost you football games. He’s going to be prepared. He’s going to create opportunities for teams to win football games.” These are some of the traits that Belichick looks for in his players, especially the quarterback and leader of the team.
However, the real decision is made when discussing money. In 2019, he signed a one-year $7.25 million deal with New Orleans, and his play outperformed that by a large margin. It’s still a small sample size so far, so the price tag shouldn’t be astronomical. Many believe Bridgewater will get at least $20 million annually. That price tag is certainly doable for the Patriots, even with the $13.5 million in dead money that would be left from Brady’s departure. If Bridgewater’s number hits $30 million annually, that makes life more complicated for New England.
Last season, with Brees out, Bridgewater played well enough to lead the Saints to a 5-0 record. He threw for 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions with a 99.1 passer rating.
Bridgewater isn’t Brady. No one is. But perhaps Bridgewater can be a source of hope, if Brady departs in free agency.
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