ESPN’s Ben Goessling: 5th year option for Teddy Bridgewater ‘likely’

Aug 12, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in a preseason NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in a preseason NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN Staff Writer Ben Goessling feels that the Minnesota Vikings will likely exercise the 5th year option on ailing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Teddy Bridgewater was on track to be the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback for the 2016 season before a devastating knee injury forced him to have surgery and miss at least the entire year.

Bridgewater’s accuracy, poise, and mobility are some of his greatest assets, and he will likely get a chance to show them off again the future. The passer has one more year left on his contract, but the Vikings can choose to keep him for one more year if they exercise his fifth year option.

Recently, ESPN Staff Writer Ben Goessling wrote about Teddy’s future and whether or not the team will consider using the 5th year option on him. Here is what Goessling had to say:

"“Bridgewater is under contract at $2.18 million for the 2017 season, and the Vikings will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option in May. It seems likely they will exercise the option, even though it will check in north of $11 million, because it gives them another year to evaluate the 24-year-old’s recovery.”"

More from The Viking Age

However, the 5th year option doesn’t mean that Bridgewater will get his starting gig back when he returns. Instead. Bradford appears to have locked down that job for the immediate future based on his strong performance during the 2016 season.

"“Even though Bradford’s history with Shurmur gives him the inside track to being the Vikings’ quarterback for the foreseeable future, Bridgewater has also shown a preference for the kinds of quick-timing throws that Shurmur favors in his offense. Bridgewater would not be incompatible with the Vikings’ current offensive direction if he were to come back.”"

Next: Bridgewater expecting 'great success' in the future

It’s hard not to root for Teddy Bridgewater to make a comeback and play at a high level. The young man has a great charisma to him and is a favorite among the Minnesota Vikings fan base. The former first round pick should have some time to get healthy and be evaluated before the team makes any big decisions about his future.

Schedule