Poll: Is Teddy Bridgewater the Vikings QB of the Future?

It’s hard to argue against Teddy Bridgewater for the best quarterback of the 2014 draft class. At 5-4 as a starter, he has won more games than all other rookie QB’s combined.

What is the main attribute we look for in rookies? Week-by-week improvement. Bridgewater has had his bumps and bruises, but remains an aggressive learner. He threw zero touchdowns in his first three games, four in his next four games and six in his last three games.

His studies were on full display Sunday when he checked out of a play, leading to an 87-yard Jarius Wright touchdown pass. Teddy saw a heavy blitz coming so he switched to a quick wide receiver screen pass that took all of the blitzers out of the play. Wright only had one man to beat on the game winning play that was the longest of his career.

After the game, head coach Mike Zimmer cemented his faith in the young quarterback. “When Teddy decides to be the leader of the football team, because right now he’s still feeling his way a little bit and his personality is just do what you do and do what you have to do, this franchise is Teddy’s,” Zimmer said, via the Pioneer Press. “I know that was a good headline for you. … He needs to take it over. This is his team now.”

When told about that quote, Teddy smiled but said the team belongs as much to backup guard Vlad Ducasse as is does to him. However, on the field it’s amazing to watch veterans gravitate to this rookie. He has a calm yet upbeat demeanor in the huddle and the team follows suit.

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In the final three games of 2014, Bridgewater has a chance to lead his team to a .500 record or better. To Vikings fans, however, that is not what’s important. They’ve rooted for 11 different quarterbacks since 2007! Other than the small taste of success with

in 2009, Minnesota Vikings fans have been hungry for a franchise quarterback since

.

It’s still too early to tell, but what we’ve seen thus far in Teddy Bridgewater could be the makings of a prized franchise QB. He seems to have the attitude, skill and work ethic to get there. We’ll have to wait and see. Rick Spielman may have done well this time around.

Dec 7, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) passes against the New York Jets in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports