Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North

A player the Minnesota Vikings used a first-round draft pick on in 2014 could be making his way back to the NFC North this offseason.

When the Minnesota Vikings selected Teddy Bridgewater with the final pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the team was hoping to find their quarterback of the future in the young Louisville passer.

Sadly, things didn’t work out for Bridgewater in Minnesota and he signed with the New York Jets in free agency in 2018 and bounced around the league a little bit, spending time with the Saints, Panthers, Broncos, and Dolphins.

Bridgewater is currently a free agent and is looking for a team to sign him this offseason. According to a recent report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Twitter, his next employer could be a team in the NFC North.

What would Bridgewater’s role be with the Lions?

At this point in his career, Teddy Bridgewater is seen as a high-quality backup quarterback who likely won’t get another starting job unless he gets another opportunity to prove himself when stepping into a game for an injured passer.

Bridgewater would slide right into the backup quarterback role behind Jared Goff, who had struggled in the past but had an excellent 2022 season by throwing for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.

Last season, Bridgewater was a backup for Tua Tagovailoa in Miami and started two games before suffering an injury to his throwing hand that moved third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson into the starting lineup.

Starting 65 of his 78 games played, Bridgwater would bring experience and stability to a Lions quarterback room that currently only features Goff and Nate Sudfeld. Teddy has thrown for 15,120 yards in his career with 75 touchdowns to 47 interceptions.

At the moment, there is no deal in place between former Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the Detroit Lions but it is a signing that would make a lot of sense for both sides.