NFL News & Analysis

Teddy Bridgewater named Denver Broncos' starting quarterback

Seattle, Washington, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) drops back to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio informed his team Wednesday morning that Teddy Bridgewater will be the team’s starting quarterback.

Bridgewater was in competition with 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock, who has started 18 games over the last two seasons with the Broncos.

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Bridgewater started the Broncos’ second preseason game and has played 40 total snaps over two games, going 16-of-19 for 179 yards with two touchdown passes.

The Broncos traded a sixth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for Bridgewater this offseason. Broncos general manager George Paton was with the Vikings when Minnesota selected Bridgewater in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Click here to view Teddy Bridgewater's career in PFF Premium Stats…

Teddy Bridgewater vs. Drew Lock: PFF Stats through preseason Week 2
PFF Stat Teddy Bridgewater Drew Lock
Attempts 19 21
Average depth of target 7.0 9.2
Adjusted completion % 89.5% 70.0%
PFF Grade 83.4 66.2

Bridgewater earns the Job

Bridgewater has earned an 83.4 PFF grade through two preseason games, fourth among the 53 quarterbacks with 40-plus snaps this preseason. Lock has managed a mark of 66.2, ranking 25th.

The former Carolina Panther has thrown 7.0 yards downfield on average, while Lock has managed a 9.2-yard average depth of target on 21 attempts. Lock went 14-of-21 for 231 yards with two touchdowns in two preseason games. Click here to see side-by-side passing statistics from the Denver Broncos preseason QB competition…


BETTING IMPACT

Denver Broncos win total: Denver's win total settled at 8.5 when Bridgewater was named the starter. Despite facing the fifth-easiest strength of schedule in 2021, our simulation isn't overly optimistic and recommends the under at 8.5 with the plus-money price. Click here for PFF's win totals tracker…

Jerry Jeudy Player Props: Our fantasy projections increased Jeudy's receiving yardage total by almost 50 yards with the move to Teddy Bridgewater. This creates almost 100 yards of separation between our fantasy projections (1,013.4) and Jeudy's player prop number (920.5). Smash the over as Jeudy establishes himself as the clear best option for Teddy Bridgewater in 2021. Click here for PFF's fantasy projections…


FANTASY FOOTBALL IMPACT

The Jerry Jeudy breakout is here: The 2020 first-round selection finished seventh in total air yards a season ago, but only 59% of his targets were deemed catchable, the third-worst mark in the league. Click here for PFF Fantasy Rankings…

Teddy Bridgewater 2QB-league sleeper:  With one of the league’s top supporting casts of receivers and backs, all Bridgewater has to do is distribute the ball and watch the fantasy points rack up. Last season, Bridgewater was one of only two quarterbacks to support three top-25 fantasy wide receivers. He also benefits from having the easiest strength of schedule for quarterbacks.

Slightly lower Courtland Sutton in the rankings: As a big-bodied and contested-catch fiend, Sutton would have probably been better off with a wild Lock under center. Instead, he gets Bridgewater, whose overall conservative nature will limit Sutton from reaching his fantasy ceiling.

PFF’s Fantasy Football Rankings include ranks from our experts, projections and our Strength of Schedule metric. Subscribe today for access…

NFL IMPACT

A definite upgrade in accuracy: Last season, 18.6% of Bridgewater's pass attempts were charted as inaccurate and uncatchable, 20th among 44 quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts. Lock's mark of 25.8% ranked 42nd. Click here for PFF's 2021 NFL QB Annual…

The Broncos' downfield passing game takes a hit: The veteran passer ranked 28th in passing grade and third-to-last in accurate-pass rate on passes thrown 10 or more yards downfield last year. Overall, he recorded a big-time throw rate that ranked ahead of only Andy DaltonNick MullensCam NewtonJared GoffTua Tagovailoa and Sam Darnold.

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