Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers. (Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the draft capital to trade for Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater this spring.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater could be dealt this offseason, possibly to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With Carolina trading for former New York Jets starter Sam Darnold on Monday, it means Bridgewater is expendable. He signed a three-year deal worth $63 million ahead of the 2020 NFL season. While there is a potential out in Bridgewater’s contract ahead of 2022, he is slated to hit free agency in 2023 ahead of his age-31 season out of Louisville. He is not for long in Charlotte.
Head coach Matt Rhule is going to start Darnold this season in Joe Brady’s offense. While Bridgewater is only a stop-gap quarterback at this point in his career, he could be the perfect bridge quarterback in Pittsburgh once Ben Roethlisberger presumably hangs up the spikes. Since the Steelers are not picking until No. 24 overall this spring, drafting his successor could be challenging.
How the Pittsburgh Steelers trade for Teddy Bridgewater
Given that trading Darnold netted the Jets a 2021 sixth-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick and a 2022 fourth-round pick, it gives us something to work with when it comes to Bridgewater’s trade value. The Panthers will not get as much in return, but they should be able to net at least two, maybe even three picks over the next two NFL Drafts. Will the Steelers bite on their offer?
Pittsburgh would have to give up this year’s third-round pick (No. 87), as well as a late-round pick or two in the next two drafts. While he is a more proven product than Darnold, he is considerably older than him and he has an injury-riddled past. So let’s just say No. 87 this year and a sixth or seventh-round pick in 2022 could be what it takes for the Steelers to end up with Bridgewater.
The Steelers must give up two picks to get a 2021 backup and a 2022 starter in Bridgewater.