Bridgewater’s name has been a popular one in trade rumors after he performed well this preseason, his first steady game action since 2016.
The New York Jets traded quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and a sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for a third-round pick, according to multiple reports Wednesday.
According to multiple reports, the Jets loaded their team buses in preparation to drive to Philadelphia for Thursday’s preseason game against the Eagles before pulling Bridgewater off the bus to inform him of the deal with the Saints.
Bridgewater, 25, joined the Jets in free agency on a one-year, incentive-laden deal that guaranteed him just $1 million but has a base value of $6 million and a max value of $15 million.
His name has been a popular one in trade rumors after he performed well this preseason, his first steady game action since suffering a gruesome knee injury on the eve of the 2016 regular season. Bridgewater went 28 for 38 (73.7 percent) for 316 yards (8.3 yards per attempt), two touchdowns and an interception in three preseason appearances. Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan previously hinted at a possible trade.
Since the Minnesota Vikings took him 32nd overall in 2014, Bridgewater has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 6,150 yards (7.2 yards per attempt), 28 touchdowns and 22 interceptions while going 17-11 as a starter.
Saints starter Drew Brees turns 40 in January and is under contract through the 2019 season, after he signed a two-year, $50 million deal this offseason as a free agent. Free agent signee Tom Savage and former undrafted free agent Taysom Hill had been battling for the backup job in New Orleans. Savage is on a one-year deal, while Hill is under contract through 2019.
The Jets will move forward with 39-year-old veteran Josh McCown, who re-signed on a $10 million deal in free agency this spring, and No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold. The 21-year-old rookie started the team’s third preseason game and appears to have a great chance to open Week 1 as the Jets’ starter.
Darnold has gone 29 of 45 (64.4 percent) for 244 yards (5.4 yards per attempt), two touchdowns and an interception in three preseason games. McCown has barely played in preseason while the team gave Bridgewater and Darnold more reps.
—Field Level media
