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At the top of the list for the Minnesota Vikings over the offseason will center around the uncertainty surrounding their quarterback situation for the 2018 season. The team is projected to have a good number of options at the position with Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, and Sam Bradford all proving at times to be capable starters.
There is the growing expectation that the Vikings may be leaning toward bringing Bridgewater back from the group given the confidence in him within the organization. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has reported that there is still isn't any resolution involving his future with the team that may be linked to a CBA issue.
No one has been reporting anything about the free-agency status of Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Primarily because there’s nothing to report. Primarily because no one is saying anything about it.
Here’s the issue: The Collective Bargaining Agreement plainly states that, when a player in the final year of his contract is physically unable to perform as of the sixth game of the season, the contract tolls for a year. This language applies to Bridgewater, who tore an ACL in August 2016, missed all of that season on injured reserve, and then missed the first six games of 2017 while on the PUP list.
If tolling applies, Bridgewater will be under contract for 2018, at the same $1.3 million salary he received in 2017.
The Vikings are in a precarious position as the franchise doesn't want to be perceived as lowballing one of their most beloved players. When healthy, Bridgewater has proven to be an asset to the team and a potential long-term solution under center, but his injury history could very well come into play from him getting an intriguing offer this offseason.
Minnesota could likely be waiting on the league to clear up the matter before truly assessing their quarterback dilemma, which new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo stated that the team is still in the middle of determining what direction they plan to head.
At the same time, the team is still weighing what they plan on doing with Keenum after he put together a career-best campaign while leading the franchise to their first NFC Championship game appearance in eight years. Although there may not be much chatter around Bradford, he is still an option at the position. Ultimately, all of this should receive clarity in the coming weeks ahead of free agency.
