The Carolina Panthers have a ton of important decisions to make in the coming months. At the top of the list is choosing a successor to former general manager Marty Hurney. After that, the biggest item is picking a path forward at quarterback.
Starter Teddy Bridgewater is under contract for another two years and is practically guaranteed to return in 2021 no matter what else the team does at his position. However, his production fell well short of our expectations this season and his future as the QB1 is in doubt. Bridgewater was benched in Sunday’s season-ending loss to the Saints.
In his last session with the media this season, Bridgewater was asked about the team potentially drafting a new franchise QB. Teddy declared this is still his team and even if they pick a QB that won’t change his approach, per Alaina Getzenberg at the Charlotte Observer.
Teddy Bridgewater: "This is my team and I'm going to continue to conduct myself that way."
When asked about Panthers possibly taking a QB in the draft, Bridgewater says that wouldn't affect and he would continue to train the same.
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) January 4, 2021
That’s the right thing to say in Bridgewater’s position and he deserves credit for the way he’s handled himself this entire season. Ask any of his teammates and they’ll tell you Bridgewater is a great leader, as both Christian McCaffrey and Mike Davis said in their own Zoom meetings today.
Unfortunately for Bridgewater, this is a results-oriented business and no amount of good-will can change that. Given the talent around him, Bridgewater’s numbers should have been better and if they were his team would have won more games. Sometimes it’s that simple.
In his defense, this was Bridgewater’s first year running Carolina’s offense and there was no genuine offseason program or preseason games to prepare. With a true offseason in 2021, Bridgewater might show an improved chemistry with his receivers, especially No. 1 wideout D.J. Moore.
It may already be too late for Bridgewater to save his QB1 status, though. Team owner David Tepper’s recent quarterback comments suggest he’s in danger of being replaced before his three-year deal expires.
For now, this is still Bridgewater’s team. That may no longer be the case in a few months, though.
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