Odds Favor Teddy Bridgewater Starting for Patriots in 2020 If Brady Leaves
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Updated: March 9, 2021 at 5:00 pm ESTPublished:
- Sportsbooks have established Teddy Bridgewater as the +300 favorite to be the next quarterback of the New England Patriots if Tom Brady opts to leave
- Free agent Brady is still favored to stay with New England. Which way should you play this wager?
- All of the odds and picks are analyzed in the story that follows
If Tom Brady is about to become past tense with the New England Patriots, Teddy Bridgewater is favored to be presently signed as the future of the franchise.
Six-time Super Bowl winner Brady is a free agent. The expectations are that Brady will ultimately opt to re-sign with the Patriots. However, sportsbooks are listing odds regarding New England’s Plan B if Brady does opt-out.
Should Brady sign with another team, the sportsbook favors Bridgewater as the +300 chalk to be signed as his replacement.
Bridgewater started five games last season for the New Orleans Saints and went 5-0.
Odds on Patriots Starting QB for Game 1 of 2020 NFL Regular Season (If Not Tom Brady)
| Players | Odds |
|---|---|
| Teddy Bridgewater | +300 |
| Ryan Tannehill | +350 |
| Marcus Mariota | +500 |
| Andy Dalton | +600 |
| Jarrett Stidham | +700 |
| Derek Carr | +800 |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | +1000 |
| Philip Rivers | +1400 |
| Nick Foles | +1400 |
| Dak Prescott | +2000 |
| Jameis Winston | +2000 |
| Joe Flacco | +2500 |
| Cody Kessler | +3300 |
Odds taken Mar. 5
The NFL’s free-agent signing period begins March 18th.
Bridgewater Was Teddy Ballgame
Last season, New Orleans QB Drew Brees went down with a thumb injury in Week 2. Surgery was required to repair the damage.
The Saints handed the reins to Bridgewater and just kept on rolling. A starter for the Minnesota Vikings who led them to a playoff berth, Bridgewater’s career was sidetracked by a knee injury that cost him an entire season.
Reaction time. Hand-eye coordination. Core stability.
Teddy Bridgewater putting in work. 👀
(🎥: @doctor_reef, h/t @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/sZPMcrigtS
— theScore (@theScore) March 2, 2020
The Saints made him the highest-paid NFL backup QB last season at $7.25 million. He rewarded their faith with the unbeaten run while Brees healed.
Bridgewater threw for nine touchdowns against two interceptions. His passer rating was 99.1. He completed 67.9% of his passes (133-for-196).
Brady Destination a Mystery
You can’t click on an NFL website without coming across a new Brady rumor. Some make sense, such as the Tennessee Titans, who look close to winning a Super Bowl. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team loaded with offensive weapons, also offer intrigue.
Vote for the GOAT 🗳️🐐#StayTom https://t.co/YMEfQGYw61 pic.twitter.com/sNSRBpOtKH
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) March 4, 2020
There’s also been Brady to the San Francisco 49ers scuttlebutt in recent days. Would the 49ers really be willing to jettison Jimmy Garoppolo, who just took them to the Super Bowl, in favor of a 43-year-old short-term solution?
The strongest speculation has Brady staying in New England. Odds list the Pats as the -130 chalk to be Brady’s NFL team in 2020.
Dalton Offers Value
One name that’s surfaced in connection to the Patriots is Andy Dalton. His Cincinnati days are done. The Bengals, with the first pick in the NFL Draft, will cast their future with LSU Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.
Don't laugh. I don't hate the Andy Dalton-Patriots rumors. https://t.co/frUrkpiwyL pic.twitter.com/yybe53FTPH
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) March 2, 2020
Another name that’s been connected to New England is Tampa Bay’s, Jameis Winston. Would they really go all-in on the pickoff prone Winston?
Bill Belichick does like reclamation projects but Jameis seems like too much work even for him.
Teddy Will Get Paid
Estimates are that Bridgewater could pull down $30 million a year in free agency. Some team with pay Teddy but it won’t be the Pats.
Traditionally, New England prefers home-grown QBs. From Jim Plunkett to Steve Grogan to Drew Bledsoe to Brady, all of the Patriots’ long-term QBs were drafted by the team.
Jarrett Stidham is out in California working with a group of quarterbacks (Sam Darnold is one) with Jordan Palmer. Sounds like he’s having a good start to his offseason.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) February 27, 2020
The Pats are also a big-picture team. If Brady does opt-out, they might sign a veteran to be the backup. But in all likelihood, they’d give Brady understudy Jarett Stidham first chance to show what he can do.
Pick: Jarrett Stidham (+700)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
