Los Angeles Chargers Sunday Mailbag: Trade for Teddy Bridgewater?

For all your questions and topics regarding the best team in the NFL, welcome to the July 8 edition of the Los Angeles Chargers Saturday Mailbag.

Good morning, afternoon, evening and night! Whenever you’re reading this, welcome to the Los Angeles Chargers Mailbag. As always, we’re looking at questions from fans and readers about the Bolts heading into the 2018 season.

Given that training camp has yet to start — though it’s fast approaching — we’re taking things slow at this time. As such, we only have one question that we’ll be answering in this edition of the mailbag.

Moving forward, however, any and all questions that you want answered are more than appreciated.

How can you get your questions in?

1. Post in the comments section
2. On Twitter to @tjscooter30
3. By email (for longer submissions or multiple questions) at lacbag18@gmail.com

Let’s dive right in, and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Question: Hey Tyler. I have question for the mailbag that I would love to hear your opinion on.  I read some articles about Teddy Bridgewater possibly being available and that his contract is very team friendly. Would it make sense for the Bolts to look into this?  As he has to better than our back ups. And he might have gas in the tank for post-Rivers. I hope that is years away.  But if an injury happened i think he could step in with our talent and still give us a chance to compete.  As always thanks for your opinion. 

This has to check out on three levels for the Chargers to want to “O.K.” the move:

1. Is he healthy?
2. How is the contract?
3. What is it going to take to get him?

The first one is still a bit of an unknown, but reports are that he’s looked good during OTAs:

Quarterbacks look good in shorts without pressure, and it appears as if the former Vikings starter is doing just that. Coming back from one of the nastiest injuries in recent memory (dislocated kneecap and torn ligaments that almost cost him his leg), Bridgewater took a low-cost deal with the New York Jets to prove his worth. I’m actually a bit shocked that there wasn’t more interest in him, including interest from the Chargers. It’s possible teams are waiting to see how he holds up in training camp before they start inquiring.

The contract is for one year, $6 million with only $1 million guaranteed. By comparison, the Chargers currently pay both Geno Smith and Cardale Jones a total of about $1.6 million to sit behind Philip Rivers. If Bridgewater were to be traded for, he would become the immediate backup behind No. 17.

Following current depth charts, that makes Bridgewater the second-highest paid second-string quarterback in the NFL, trailing only Nick Foles. Over the past four seasons with the Bolts, Kellen Clemens “only” made, at most, $1.25 million in a single year. When your quarterback is one of the league’s reigning iron men for consecutive starts, it’s hard to heavily (monetarily) invest in your backup.

So what would it take for the Chargers to nab Bridgewater? I can’t imagine the Jets ask for much, although the better their quarterback plays in the preseason the more expensive his asking price will become. The Bolts traded a conditional 2018 seventh-round selection for Jones last season, and I would expect another Day 3 selection would have to be given up to grab Bridgewater.

Verdict: Pass. He at one point was a solid talent who has shown the ability to be a decent starter in the league. But the money is just too much for my liking, and it’s unlikely Telesco pulls the trigger on another quarterback trade when $6 million can be allocated towards a defensive lineman or injury insurance along the offensive line.

Next: NFL 2018: Ranking all 32 WR corps

The Chargers would be better off looking towards the following draft for their quarterback of the future. Josh Rosen, for example, was selected 10th overall in this past draft but “only” is being paid $17.597 million over four years, with all of it guaranteed. The Chargers, who will likely pick at least in the twenties in 2019, could find a strong rookie quarterback to learn behind Rivers who will undoubtedly cost less annually than Bridgewater’s current $6 million deal.