Cardinals Tabbed a Fit for Free Agent QB Teddy Bridgewater

CBS Sports believes the Arizona Cardinals are a landing spot for free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Ryan Sanudo | May 20, 2023

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Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray continues to rehab from a torn ACL he suffered last season.

It's still likely that the dynamic 25-year-old won't see the field in the early part of the 2023 season.

So who will man the ship under the center during that time with first-year general manager Monti Ossenfort and new head coach Jonathan Gannon?

The Cardinals drafted Houton's Clayton Tune in the fifth round of the draft and signed Jeff Driskel in free agency. Veterans Colt McCoy and David Blough are also on the roster.

Still, there are still key free agents available for all 32 NFL teams. And with OTA off-season workouts beginning next week, it would be seemingly beneficial to get players familiar with teammates and coaches sooner rather than later.

CBS Sports NFL analyst Cody Benjamin believes that Teddy Bridgewater — who played under Gannon and coordinator Drew Petzing with the Minnesota Vikings — is a "matchmaker" fit for the Cardinals.

Benjamin wrote, "Arizona is probably more concerned with competing in 2024, but with Kyler Murray recovering from a late-year ACL tear and aging backup Colt McCoy also coming off his own injuries, new coach Jonathan Gannon may be counting on Clayton Tune and David Blough to carry them early. Bridgewater, meanwhile, is a proven stopgap with ties to Gannon and coordinator Drew Petzing."

Bridgewater has tried to regain his Pro Bowl form from 2015. But it's been tough for the Lousiville product after suffering gruesome knee injuries in 2016.

Over his last three seasons, Bridgewater has an 11-20 record as a starter. Last season, with the Miami Dolphins, he lost both of his starts completed 49 of 79 passes for 683 yards and four touchdowns and four interceptions. Bridgewater would exit in a Week 17 game due to a broken finger and wouldn't return again for the Phins.

The 30-year-old Bridgewater is looking for his sixth team in his 10-year career.

Yet, if the price is right, the Cardinals could be a fit for Bridgewater. Arizona doesn't have a sure-fire solution to replace the injured Murray. And Bridgewater would be the best option with a 33-32 career record as a starter.

The Cardinals still have plenty of needs other than finding a temporary solution at quarterback. But after a 3-14 season in 2022, Arizona needs to have a respectable offense in a tough NFC West, especially if DeAndre Hopkins sticks around in the desert.