The Chicago Bears may have been in hibernation for the last six weeks and the NFL offseason is now just beginning. If anything, general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy need to figure out what direction they are going in with the quarterback position this offseason. That will be one of the biggest keys as the Bears look to re-capture that success they had in 2018.

While Pace has publicly stated that Mitchell Trubisky will be the starter for the third consecutive season, if there is one thing that need to be done at Halas Hall this offseason, it’s reshaping the quarterback room.

This means out with the old, in with the new. Trubisky will be sticking around but a number of interesting names are expected to hit the open market. One of the more intriguing names on the list? Teddy Bridgewater.

Teddy Bridgewater (27)

While the New Orleans Saints season has been over for nearly a month now, they’ve yet to make a decision on what to do regarding Bridgewater. With future Hall of Famer Drew Brees contemplating retirement, it makes sense that the 27-year old Bridgewater would be next in line to be the face of the Saints franchise right?

Yes and no. As of right now, New Orleans has yet to decide on Bridgewater’s future with the team as well as fellow backup Taysom Hill. Over the last few years, there’s been a relatively small sample size when it comes to Bridgewater.

Before a gruesome knee injury cut his 2016 season short, Bridgewater appeared as if he was one of the ascending quarterbacks in the NFL. Yet since that knee injury, he’s had just six starts that have seen him accumulate 1502 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and two interceptions.

There are multiple ways in which Bridgewater’s future plays out over the next few months. First, the Saints could resign him to a big deal that makes him the face of the franchise. Or second, if Brees does return, Bridgewater will likely test the open market and end up in a different uniform in 2020. Third, if Brees returns for one final run at the Lombardi Trophy, Bridgewater could return to New Orleans on a modest deal that would give him the keys to the franchise in 2021.

Of those three options listed above, the second seems the most likely. If the Brees returns, Bridgewater will want to see what the open market has to offer because he’d likely get a legitimate chance at competing for a starting gig wherever he goes.

Strengths

Although the praise doesn’t seem like it’s heard every day, Bridgewater is looked at as being a leader in the locker room. Leadership qualities are something that the Bears need to heavily consider when bringing in competition for Trubisky because shaky quarterback play in 2020 could divide the locker room and further hurt the team’s chances at competing in the NFC North.

Although he’s not the most mobile quarterback, Bridgewater has shown the ability to scramble and extend plays when needed. When using his legs, he’s got 434 rushing yards, averaging just 3.3 yards per attempt. For some who wonder why Bridgewater’s rushing totals took a dip in 2019, it’s because he was asked to be more of a pocket passer.

Bridgewater is also excellent when asked to be a prototypical pocket passer. In five starts in 2019, he remained calm even under pressure demonstrating good pocket awareness when he felt pressure. In a division that includes guys like Za’Darius Smith and Trey Flowers, being able to navigate the pocket is something that is a must when looking to add a quarterback this offseason.

For the most part, his development as a quarterback while in Minnesota came under Scott Turner, who’s currently an offensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins. During his time in New Orleans, he’s been coached by Joe Lombardi. While neither Turner or Lombardi have any direct ties to Nagy, Lombardi especially has been looked at one of the better quarterback coaches in the NFL.

Weaknesses

It’s unknown whether or not Bridgewater is really ready to go back to being a full-time starter in the NFL. He hasn’t started a full season since 2015 and while he was with the New York Jets briefly in 2018, he wasn’t able to beat out then-rookie Sam Darnold for the starting job.

Can he really carry a team? For someone who’s going to be paid like a franchise quarterback this offseason, Bridgewater has not yet proven that he can carry a team. During his previous two stops in both New Orleans and Minnesota, it’s fair to argue that the talent around him made him look better than he really was.

Throughout his career, Bridgewater has never really been that accurate. His career completion percentage is just 65.2 percent. Additionally, with the way that the Saints offense is set up, Bridgewater was never asked to carry the load or make plays. That was more the job of players like Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas.

Bridgewater doesn’t have an elite arm which means that it’s unlikely that he’s asked to make big throws downfield. He’d best thrive in an offense that requires him to complete short or intermediate passes. If anything, under Nagy, the quarterback in this offense needs to be able to make big throws down the field.

Does He Fit?

There have been multiple names thrown around when it comes to discussing the quarterback position this offseason. However, Pace and Nagy can’t sign or trade for just anyone.

They need to find the right fit.

Bridgewater fits the Bears offense because he’s proven that he can be a solid option. And if the offense is going to ger back to relevance in 2020, it will all start with consistent quarterback play.

While he isn’t the most mobile quarterback, he can at least operate from the pocket and make plays when needed. Bridgewater has also proven that he’s got good mechanics. Unlike Trubisky, who’s mechanics are all over the place, Bridgewater has excellent footwork and is able to step into throws to avoid overthrowing the ball.

If anything, Bridgewater is the Bears best option when it comes to pushing Trubisky. While he has just six starts over a two-year period, he’s proven that he can be good enough for a team that’s looking for a serviceable option.

Conclusion

Likely the most expensive guy on the market at the quarterback position, the Bears will need to go into free agency with a sales pitch that likely includes Bridgewater taking over at some point in 2020 should Trubisky not succeed.

Four years ago, when the Bears signed Mike Glennon in free agency, he was signed to a three-year deal worth $45M. With the market having changed since then, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Bridgewater get a deal that could see him make $20M or more a year.

Pace and Joey Laine have proven that they’re able to structure contracts in such a way where the Bears are not hurt financially in the long-run. Yet if Bridgewater wants stability, he’ll likely want more guaranteed money upfront upon putting pen to paper.

In an offseason of transition for the Bears, the position that will dominate the headlines is quarterback and this is a team that is just one good or bad move away from what will be a crucial 2020 season where jobs are on the line.