Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater in interesting contract situation

Teddy Bridgewater may or may not be a free agent for 2018, and the decision is up to the NFL based on whether his Minnesota Vikings contract is tolled.

The quarterback situation for the Minnesota Vikings is an interesting one heading into the 2018 NFL season. The franchise ended 2017 with four passers on their 53-man roster, but only have one under contract heading into 2018.

Or so that would seem for now. Minnesota likely won’t be handing the keys over to Kyle Sloter next season, but there is a chance that the team could have one of the other three quarterbacks return to the team without working out a deal with them.

Let’s be honest, Sam Bradford is likely out as the team’s starter since battling knee injuries have made him a gamble for any team to put all their faith in. Plus, a team will probably pay way too much to bring in Case Keenum after he had a career year bringing the Vikings to the Conference Championship Game.

Meanwhile, Bridgewater didn’t start a single game for Minnesota in the last two seasons and only found playing time when the score against the Bengals got out of hand. But he is also in a situation where he could be in a Vikings jersey in 2018 thanks to contract tolling.

Since Bridgewater started the 2017 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, he is eligible for the final year of his rookie contract to be rolled over for one season, meaning the team has to wait on the NFL’s decision on whether or not this will be done.

General manager Rick Spielman spoke about this as shared on Scout.com:

"“Right now, he’s technically ready to become a free-agent. With the tolling… if it goes into that area, it’s not a Minnesota Viking [decision], that’s an NFL and player union that will have to decide that area.”"

More from The Viking Age

Contract tolling is something that has been very rarely used in the NFL. In fact, as of this article, finding an instance of it being used on a first-round draft pick who had their fifth-year option declined was impossible.

The Vikings will still be moving forward under the assumption that they need to ensure they have a starting-caliber quarterback on their roster. That means they cannot put too much faith in Teddy’s contract being tolled and making them their quarterback, especially since it is a position that can make or break a football team.

Still, Spielman is going forward and treating this situation like any other until he gets clarification from the league.

"“I’ve talked to all the players that were going to become [unrestricted free agents] after the season. In the exit interview, I spoke to each one individually, told them that we’re going to go through our process and then once we determine that, we should have a pretty good idea. But, then again, that final decision doesn’t need to be made until the league year kicks off March 14.”"

Next: Where will Sam Bradford end up in 2018?

Do you think that the NFL will toll the contract of Teddy Bridgewater so he remains with the Minnesota Vikings or will he be a free agent heading into the 2018 NFL season? Let us hear your guesses in the comments section below.

Home/Minnesota Vikings News