Denver Broncos: 5 of the best moves made this offseason

4. Trade for Teddy Bridgewater

As the 2021 offseason progressed and quarterback options were flying off the free agent and trade board, George Paton sat back and waited for the right time to pounce on a trade he probably wanted to make for months.

Instead of overpaying and trying to strike a trade early in the offseason, Paton waited until the day before the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft to acquire Teddy Bridgewater from the Carolina Panthers, who was entering year two of a three-year, $63 million deal he had signed in the 2020 offseason.

After re-working his deal, and with what the Panthers absorbed, Bridgewater is costing the Denver Broncos just over $4.4 million against the 2021 salary cap and he cost just a sixth-round pick (191 overall).

For that price, the gamble is well worth it for the Denver Broncos.

Bridgewater’s cap hit ranks 33rd in the NFL at the quarterback position, so even if you just consider him to be a solid backup option, he’s more than reasonably priced.

It’s not impossible to think that playing in Denver could bring out the best in Bridgewater. He has played his best football on teams that were really good, notably his work early on with the Minnesota Vikings and more recently with the New Orleans Saints.

The great thing about this move is, the Broncos aren’t even necessarily banking their team success in 2021 on Bridgewater playing his best ball. They would love it, obviously, if he does have to play. The “Plan A” remains for Drew Lock to seize the job and become “the guy” in Denver.

Acquiring Bridgewater was a great “Plan B” move by George Paton and the front office given the way he really raises the floor at that position group.