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Colts Becoming Favorites to Sign Teddy Bridgewater – Updated Free Agency Odds for QB

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NFL Football

Updated Mar 9, 2021 · 5:00 PM PST

Bridgewater
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
  • The Indianapolis Colts have emerged as +100 favorites to sign quarterback Teddy Bridgewater
  • The Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots have the second-best odds
  • Get all the odds and insight on where Bridgewater may land in our coverage below

The return of Teddy Bridgewater was one of the feel-good stories of the 2019 NFL season. After being limited to just one start over the three previous seasons, due to both injury and lack of opportunity, Bridgewater proved invaluable to the New Orleans Saints while Drew Brees was sidelined.

The Saints have re-committed to Brees with a new two-year contract, leaving Bridgewater’s future in question. The Indianapolis Colts have emerged as the favorites to have Bridgewater under center for Week 1 of the 2020 NFL campaign, sporting short +100 odds.

Odds to Sign Teddy Bridgewater for Week 1, 2020

Team Odds
Indianapolis Colts +100
Los Angeles Chargers +300
New England Patriots +300
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +700
Chicago Bears +1000
Miami Dolphins +1200
Carolina Panthers +1600

Odds as of March 5, 2020.

Bridgewater Enjoyed Long-Awaited Resurgence in 2019

Selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 32nd-overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Bridgewater saw a promising career put on hold by a serious knee injury ahead of the 2016 campaign. But he showed no ill effects of his lengthy layoff while leading New Orleans to a perfect 5-0 record last year while Brees was out with a hand injury.

With Michael Thomas as a regular target downfield, Bridgewater put up 1,205 passing yards over his five starts, connecting on nine touchdown passes against just two interceptions.

Bridgewater’s steady 2019 performance coupled with his experience under center have made him a popular offseason target for teams in need of an upgrade at QB. While the Saints would certainly benefit from bringing him back as Brees’ understudy, the 27-year-old is likely eager to get another shot at leading an NFL offense while still in his prime. Indeed, Bridgewater opened as a strong bet to take over a starter’s role in the days following Super Bowl 54, sporting short -120 odds to start in Week 1 of 2020.

Colts Fit the Bill

The Colts fill the bill nicely as Bridgewater’s next destination. The squad sorely misses Andrew Luck, who stunned the team and their fans by announcing his retirement from the NFL shortly before the start of the 2019 season.

Luck’s retirement put the ball in the hands of Jacoby Brissett for the second time in three years, with disappointing results; Brissett and the Colts limped to a 1-5 record down the stretch and ultimately finished the year 7-9.

Indianapolis has been regularly connected to a host of impending free-agent quarterbacks, most notably Philip Rivers and Tom Brady. Rivers has been viewed as the frontrunner to land the Colts’ job if he wants it, while Brady’s uncertain status in New England has fueled a whirlwind of speculation about his plans for 2020.

While the Colts enjoy a boatload of salary-cap space, estimated by OverTheCap.com at over $86 million, the squad remains on the hook for the final season of the two-year, $30 million deal to which they signed Brissett last fall. That could lead Indianapolis to consider a far more affordable option, like Bridgewater, who could then compete with Brissett for playing time.

Chargers Offer Value

With the Rivers era now over in Los Angeles, and Brady remaining coy about his plans, the Chargers and the Patriots now closely trail the Colts as +300 co-second favorites to bring Bridgewater into the fold, well ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at +700.

Los Angeles finished 2019 with a dismal 5-11 SU record, but is just one year removed from an impressive 12-4 campaign, and still sports sufficient talent to compete for a wild card spot in the AFC. And with winning a priority as they move into new digs at SoFi Stadium, the Chargers offer intriguing value as a +300 bet to come to terms with Bridgewater.

Meanwhile in New England, the loss of Brady would leave the Patriots at a crossroads, but with the right man under center, they would remain a legitimate threat in the AFC East.

Jameis Winston’s future in Tampa Bay remains uncertain. However, should the Bucs move on from Winston, it is likely they would seek out a replacement that fits more of a gunslinger mold, making Bridgewater a bad fit.

Pick: Los Angeles Chargers (+300)

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