Dec 5, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) reacts to a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Teddy Bridgewater is one of the top quarterbacks in this draft class. Although many experts disagree about who the best prospect is, it seems as though Bridgewater is most frequently at the top of the list of quarterbacks. He left Louisville after his junior year and declared for the 2014 NFL Draft.
Despite leaving early, he seems to be the most polished quarterback in the draft. His college team ran a pro style offense, which should appeal to teams looking for an NFL quarterback. He also showed excellent pocket awareness in the face of pressure. His maturity on and off the field add to his character and make him a player that could become the face of a franchise.
Here are his statistics over three years at Louisville:
39 games played
Jan 30, 2014; New York, NY, USA; University of Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater attends the Madden Bowl XX Red Carpet event at the USS Intrepid Mandatory. Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
781 completions
1142 pass attempts
68.4% completion rate
9817 passing yards
72 passing touchdowns
24 interceptions
226 rushing attempts
170 rushing yards
6 rush touchdowns
What makes these numbers even more impressive is how he got them. Each year he played, he improved. 12 of those 24 interceptions came during his freshman year, while only 4 came last year.
Strengths
- Excellent in the pocket to avoid pass rush
- Mobile enough to make plays
- Keeps his eyes downfield and would rather pass than run
- Good decision maker and accurate passer
- Manipulates defense with his eyes, doesn’t lock on to receivers
- Played well when facing high caliber oppenents
- Mature player with minimal off field issues
Weaknesses
- There is concern for his durability because of his small frame
- Played against weaker competition in his conference
- Has a low release point and could work on his touch
Fit For The Vikings
Bridgewater would be a great fit for a quarterback in Minnesota. His accuracy and field vision is excellent and he also excels at the play fake.
My Take
Personally, I would be thrilled if the Vikings landed Bridgewater. After watching him on tape, he continues to impress me with his ability in the pocket to keep his eyes moving to find the open man. He is my top available quarterback in this draft. It is hard to imagine him falling to the #8 spot in the draft.