Vikings Likely to Decline 5th-Year Option on Teddy Bridgewater
The Minnesota Vikings will need to make a decision on Teddy Bridgewater's 5th-year contract option. Reports are that they will likely decline.
Ever since the NFL implemented the new NFL Draft rules (salaries/options) during the last CBA agreement, players that are drafted in the 1st round are able to be granted a 5th-year option on their contract. The NFL Draft class of 2014 is next up on that decision.
That means the Vikings have to make a choice on the guy who was suppose to be the franchise player. Bridgewater was severely injured prior to the 2016 season. All signs point to Bridgewater improving, but his status for 2017 is still up in the air.
Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Vikings will likely pass on the decision to pick up the option. In the article, Schefter says that sources within the Vikings organization have told him that the injury is the main factor as to why they won't grant the extra year.
In the business sense, the Vikings are making a smart move. Bridgewater would be owed $11 million on the 5th-year option according to Schefter. They have the ability to re-sign Bridgewater at a different deal by declining. The other side of the coin, however, is that Bridgewater would become a free agent following the 2017 season.
Bridgewater was drafted 32nd overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.