© Bob Donnan | 2021 Jan 3
John Lynch made it clear this offseason that the 49ers need to bring in a new backup quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater would be quite the upgrade.
The 49ers have made calls to the Panthers regarding a potential trade for Bridgewater according to a report in The Athletic. Bridgewater, 28, completed over 69 percent of his passes for 3,733 yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 picks in 15 starts last season. The Panthers went 4-11 in those games. It was the most games he’s started in a single-season since his catastrophic knee injury 2016. Bridgewater was a Pro Bowler with the Vikings in 2015.
Carolina is reportedly mulling their options at quarterback, deciding whether to make a run at Deshaun Watson or possibly trade up in the draft to select Zach Wilson at number two. Bridgewater is owed $17 million in 2021, so it’s unclear how the 49ers, who have just over $16 million in cap space, could afford him. Bridgewater is under contract through 2022, but has an out in his contract after this season.
With both C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens free agents, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Rosen and Josh Johnson are the only quarterbacks on San Francisco’s roster.