Redskins: 3 quarterbacks to target on the free agent market in 2018

If the Redskins are looking to find a quarterback with upside on the free agent market, Teddy Bridgewater could end up being their guy. A former first round pick, Bridgewater was once a young player on the rise. However, a devastating injury suffered in practice would change the course of his career.

In August of 2016, Bridgewater was at practice when he suffered a devastating knee injury. The injury was reportedly gruesome, as it came on a non-contact hit and he tore his ACL. That wasn’t the worst part though. He dislocated his knee joint as well and that would further delay his recovery. There were even some questions about whether or not he would ever play again.

Nevertheless, Bridgewater pushed through his rehab and he returned to the Vikings to serve as the backup midway through the 2017 season. It was a huge achievement for Bridgewater and when entered a blowout midway through the year, he got a standing ovation from the crowd. He only threw two passes, and one was picked off, but the stats don’t matter. The fact that he came back was the only important thing.

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The last time Bridgewater functioned as a full-time starter was 2015. During that year, he quarterbacked the Vikings to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,231 yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine picks. He looked like an average quarterback with the potential to be above average. Now three years removed from that, it’s unclear whether or not he’s the same player. Still, he could get a shot.

Bridgewater won’t turn 26 until midway through the 2018 season, so he still has a lot of time to improve. He could get back to that 2015 level, provided that he can stay healthy, and the Redskins could be interested in adding a player of his caliber.

If Cousins leaves, the Redskins will need to add young talent at quarterback one way or another. While it’s unclear if Bridgewater will be ready to start again, he will come at a much cheaper rate than Cousins and he could challenge Colt McCoy for the starting job. That would allow the Redskins to target different areas in the draft and avoid taking a quarterback. For that reason, Bridgewater could be an appealing option for the team, especially if there’s a lackluster market for the former Louisville product.