The rumors are coming hot and heavy right out of the gates. While other teams work the phones for top free agents at other positions, the Chicago Bears have remained quiet. This isn’t a huge surprise given their limited amount of salary cap space. If they were going to make a splash, it would be only once and it would be for a quarterback. According to former CNN reports and sports anchor Paul Crane, they might have their guy in mind with Teddy Bridgewater.
Crane, who also hosts shows on 92.9 The Game and the popular Scout’s Honor podcast, has ties to people in the NFL community. His connections aren’t really known to be good or bad. Still, his credentials at least suggest he might know something. He claims the two sides are working on a deal that would bring the 27-year old to Chicago, almost certainly to be their new starting quarterback in place of Mitch Trubisky.
His report has since been confirmed by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, talks are underway between the Bears and Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
The initial numbers floating around (something in the range of $21 million per year) suggest that Bridgewater would be installed as the No. 1 option in Chicago. And that would be a great deal for a guy who has started six games since January 2016.”
There is some sense to it. Bridgewater is a quarterback much like an Alex Smith. Not flashy but smart, efficient, accurate, and a leader. Given the success Matt Nagy had with Smith in Kansas City, he’d see this as a productive move.
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Teddy Bridgewater seed was planted last year
There is no question the Bears likely started to shift towards Bridgewater last season when he led the New Orleans Saints in a blowout win over them at Soldier Field. He was in total command that day, posting 31 points with 281 yards and two touchdowns against one of the best defenses in the NFL. That is something the Bears never got from Trubisky. He always seemed overmatched whenever he played good teams.
No doubt it’s hoped that Bridgewater can bring a sense of consistency to the position. He’ll have a ton of help on the coaching staff with Nagy, Bill Lazor, and John DeFilippo having deep quarterback backgrounds.
