Bruce Arians like to risk it. After all, if he doesn't, he will get no biscuit, as he says. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach may have seen enough of risking it in 2019. Under his watch, quarterback Jameis Winston has thrown for a league-leading 24 interceptions;
On multiple occasions, Arians stated that his turnover woes don't precisely delight him.
If Arians wants a passer with less of the “risk it” mentality, he should look into the 2020 crop of free agents. Not Marcus Mariota or Ryan Tannehill, however. New Orleans Saints' Teddy Bridgwater is the answer.
Though the presumed understudy to Drew Brees in Nola, Bridgewater, 27, could be moving homes in the offseason. The Saints may not be able to pay him, as, in his limited playing time in 2019, he showed franchise quarterback potential.
While filling in for the then-injured Drew Brees (thumb), Bridgewater didn't just help keep the Saints afloat, he thrived. He went 5-0 as a starter, throwing for 1,370 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions on a 67.7% completion rate, good for a 98.9 passer rating.
The Buccaneers witnessed what Bridgewater can do first hand. In Week 5, he toasted them en route to a 31-24 victory, passing for 314 yards, four touchdowns and an interception on a 76.5% completion rate, good for a 131.2 passer rating.
Bridgewater is more gun shy than Winston, who is never afraid to sling it. Arians favors quarterbacks that will push the ball such as his current one. However, his turnover woes combined with his free agency status next year could leave Winston out of Tampa Bay.
Bridgewater is the perfect replacement. He's young, would take away from a division rival, has shown that he can manage an offense and rip it when he needs to and, of course, Arians is also a fan of his.
“I’ve always loved Teddy,” said Arians on Oct. 6, via The Pewter Report. “He’s a good, solid player and should be a starter in the league.”
Acquiring Bridgewater won't be cheap in the offseason and the Bucs must pay pass-rusher Shaq Barrett. However, unlike last season, Tampa Bay actually has cap space in 2020, largely in part because Winston's fifth-year option is expiring.
If the Buccaneers are looking for a quarterback that won't give them heart attacks every Sunday, Bridgewater is the guy. He won't be the guy that will completely air it out every game, but that's a good thing. As long as his more conservative mindset can find a way to gel with Arians' aggressive one, the two could be a match made in heaven.
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