Denver Broncos: Teddy Bridgewater named starting quarterback over Drew Lock
Teddy Bridgewater has won the Denver Broncos quarterback competition. According to Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, the NFL veteran beat out Drew Lock for the starting job.
This offseason, the Broncos traded a sixth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for Bridgewater. Throughout the summer, the former Louisville Cardinals quarterback has made it look like a bargain.
In two preseason games, Bridgewater has completed 16 of 19 passes, accumulating 179 yards and a touchdown along the way. Additionally, the Broncos have outscored their opponents 63-9 in both games.
Previously, Bridgewater has started for the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and the aforementioned Panthers. He boasts a record of 26 wins and 23 losses for his career, winning the NFC North as the Vikings’ starting quarterback in 2015.
Since suffering a career-threatening knee injury in 2016, Bridgewater has been attempting to find a groove. Now, he gets another shot to do so with the Broncos.
Luckily, the offense he projects to lead features an embarrassment of riches.
Now the starter, Bridgewater will be throwing to an electrifying group of receivers. To illustrate, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and K.J. Hamler make up one of the league’s best receiving corps.
Additionally, former first round selection Noah Fant carries the weight of the team’s starting tight end. Moreover, Bridgewater will be able to turn and hand the ball off to the running back duo of Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III.
As long as Bridgewater lets his weapons do their thing, the Broncos offense has immense, untapped potential.
What’s next for Drew Lock?
In every quarterback battle, there’s a winner and a loser. In this case, Drew Lock takes up the mantle as the loser.
However, the former second round pick lost the competition by razor thin margins. Prior to naming Bridgewater the starting quarterback, Lock received praise from his head coach.
“It’s pretty damn close,” Fangio said of the competition earlier this month. “You guys have seen it. . . . It is close, and I think it’s close for a good reason. They both have played well. The good news of this competition is we’ve got two quarterbacks we feel we can go win with.”
In the preseason, Lock showed off his arm strength and physical capabilities on multiple occasions. In two games, the former Missouri quarterback completed 14 of 21 passes, accumulating 131 yards and two touchdowns.
While Bridgewater’s veteran presence and ability to take care of the football may have earned him the job, Lock should feel confident following his preseason showing. Perhaps it’s not the end of his chances in 2021, as a quarterback needy team could always call Denver.
Maybe Drew Lock can take some advice from Teddy Bridgewater’s inspirational story, and use the situation as fuel to improve. Still, it’ll be Bridgewater leading the Broncos in their Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants.