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Before you say it, let me preface this with a "Yes, I know the New York Giants are not drafting a QB this year." Still important to profile, however, because QBs have a major impact on the players that might be available to the Giants in every round.
So lets look today at Teddy Bridgewater, the signal caller for the Louisville Cardinals. He spent most of the year heralded as the best QB in this class, but after a subpar offseason and poor pro-day workout, has his stock dropped as much as many claim it has?
All charting data used from Greg Peshek's article found here. He really does some wonderful stuff on Rotoworld. Check it out.
Pros
- Mid-range accuracy is the best I've personally seen in years, rivaling Andrew Luck. Incredible touch.
This means that compared to the "average QB," Bridgewater completes a higher percentage of his passes across the board (green) except for deep passes, where he's about average (yellow).
-Team leader that worked out of a progression read, pro-style offense where he called his own protections.
- Athletic enough to create plays in space and do things with his feet. Not to the degree of Johnny Manziel, but enough.
- Mechanics and fundamentals don't have very many flaws.
Cons
- Slender frame at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds. Some wonder if he will be able to hold up for the long haul.
- Simply average deep ball accuracy and strength. Ball will sail and flutter on him.
Does He Fit With The Giants?
If we were drafting a QB, yes. His accuracy would obviously be an upgrade over Eli's gunslinger mentality. The fact that he performs well under pressure is good for New York considering, well, the QB seems to always be under pressure (from defenses and external influences alike).
Prospect Video
Teddy Bridgewater vs USF 2013 (via Aaron Aloysius)
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 7
Mocking The Draft - 2
CBS Sports - 9
Draft Countdown - 8
Draft Tek - 2
Final Thoughts
He's the second-best QB I've ever graded in the past five years behind only Andrew Luck and right in front of Robert Griffin III. His accuracy levels remind me of Aaron Rodgers, although not nearly as mobile. I don't know why he is falling, but he is heads and shoulders the best QB in this draft for me. If I were the Houston Texans and I didn't want Jadeveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater would be the guy I'd take to turn my franchise around and it isn't close.