NFL Rumors: Saints Quarterback Likely Leaving New Orleans In 2020 Free Agency

Drew Brees’ decision to return to the New Orleans Saints for the 2020 NFL season likely means at least one of the team’s quarterbacks is headed elsewhere. Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill are both unsigned with free agency set to officially begin on March 18.

It would be a surprise if Bridgewater is still on the Saints roster in Week 1 of next season. Unlike Hill, Bridgewater has proven that he can be a winning starter in the NFL.

New Orleans probably won’t be able to match the best offer that Bridgewater will get on the open market. Even if the 27-year-old doesn’t get a deal worth close to $30 million a year as some have speculated, he’s likely to get an offer that will greatly exceed the Saints’ price range for a backup signal caller.

“To have all three of those guys back is probably very unlikely,” Saints coach Sean Payton said on “Super Bowl Live” on Jan. 30. “You really appreciate the season you had when you had all three of them.”

How one person with Saints expected this to play out from beginning: Drew Brees returns for another year, close friend Taysom Hill gets increased role as the future, and Teddy Bridgewater goes elsewhere to play. One domino is down, let's see what RFA interest Hill garners
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 18, 2020

Drew Brees is back, and he'll count a big number on the #Saints cap once they strike a deal for 2020. How does that affect how things play out with Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill? @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/XFgNyW7gHY
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 18, 2020

Bridgewater went 5-0 as New Orleans’ starter in the 2019 season when Brees was recovering from a thumb injury. He threw for a 99.1 passer rating with 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions and 7.1 yards per attempt. Bridgewater completed 67.9% of his passes.

Bridgewater went 17-11 as the Minnesota Vikings starter from 2014-2015. A leg injury cost him the entire 2016 season. He made no starts in 2017 and one start in 2018, which was his first season with the Saints.

Depending on how free agency plays out, Bridgewater could be targeted by several teams that are looking for a new starting quarterback.

The Los Angeles Chargers are a possible destination. The team has moved on from Philip Rivers, though they are expected to be players for Tom Brady.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts are among teams that might try to add a No.1 quarterback.