The Miami Dolphins will meet with free-agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on Wednesday evening, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Bridgewater will have a decision to make between staying in New Orleans as a backup and potentially a long-term option to replace Drew Brees when he retires or leaving for Miami, where he would have an opportunity to start in 2019.
ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that Bridgewater has a bigger offer from Miami, and her sources say if the Dolphins increase their offer by $1 million to $2 million, the Saints will have to bow out.
The Boston Globe was the first to report that Bridgewater was visiting the Dolphins.
Miami is expected to part ways with Ryan Tannehill this offseason, and examine drafting a quarterback in 2019 or 2020.
Bridgewater, 26, is from Miami, attended high school at Miami Northwestern and he’s known to train and stay in the area during the offseason. He is friends with receiver and former Louisville teammate DeVante Parker, who just signed a new two-year deal with the Dolphins this week.
A 2014 first-round pick, Bridgewater began his career as the Minnesota Vikings starting QB until a gruesome knee injury sidetracked his career in August 2016. He hasn’t been in a full-time starting role since 2015, and he’s been rebuilding his career as a backup over the last two seasons.
The Dolphins, however, are looking for a veteran starting QB option. They looked into free agent quarterback Tyrod Taylor this week, but he decided to sign a two-deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.