VikingsTalk – What if Teddy Bridgewater never tore his ACL?
Deshawn
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All Vikings fans remember the fateful day we lost our Franchise QB. Tuesday, August 30th, Teddy Bridgewater tore his ACL. The injury sent shock waves through the fan base. The Vikings would go on to trade their first round pick for Sam Bradford and go 8-8 in the 2016 season. In today’s article, we are going to live an alternate timeline where Teddy two gloves does not get injured, and follow it to where it would lead us in the present day.
Regular Season: 2016
As all Vikings fans remember, the Minnesota Vikings started 2016 as the number one team in football. They exploded out of the gate with a 5-0 start, led by their dominant defense. The injury bug came back to visit and decimated the entire offensive line, and the Vikings would go on to finish 3-8 in the last eleven games of the season. In this timeline, the same injuries occur, but Teddy’s mobility means he manages a depleted offensive line better than Sam Bradford. The only changes would be splitting with the Lions and sweeping the Bears. Those four games were ugly, and could have gone differently had Bridgewater been the starter. The Vikings would go on to a 10-6 record and lose in the first round to a good Seattle Seahawks team once again.
Offseason: 2017
The 2017 offseason would be where the two timelines begin to diverge. Remember, in the original timeline Teddy’s injury led to the Vikings losing their first round pick in the Sam Bradford trade, which subsequently led to them signing Case Keenum, Riley Reiff, and Mike Remmers. In our fictional timeline, Keenum and Remmers are not signed but Riley Reiff is still signed, along with Latavius Murray. In the draft, the Vikings would have the 21st pick. This pick would most likely be a tackle, given the struggle on the offensive line. This pick would end up being OT Ryan Ramczyk. In the 2nd round, Dalvin Cook likely would not have lasted until the 53rd selection, so with the 53rd pick the Minnesota Vikings select RB Alvin Kamara. Dalvin is the better runner, but Kamara isn’t far behind and he has proven more durable. The rest of the picks would stay the same. To close the circle for the Saints, they would most likely select OT Cam Robinson and RB Kareem Hunt.
Regular Season: 2018
The offensive line going into the 2017 regular season would be Reiff, Sirles, Elflein, Berger, Ramczyk, from left to right, which forms a solid unit and a definitive upgrade over the injury-ridden line from the previous season. The 13-3 season would remain the same. The Minnesota miracle would be erased from history as the team steamrolls our way into the NFC championship game.While a Super Bowl ring would be a dream scenario for this timeline, the offensive line would still the same suffer injuries in the postseason(LG Sirles, Knee, LG Easton ankle, C Elflein ankle). In the end, this would lead to the Eagles destiny staying true and the 38-7 memes would live on in this timeline too.
Offseason: 2018
Kirk Cousins is still over paid, but by another team (LOL kidding ). The team picks up Bridgewater’s 5th year option, and after coming so close to a Super Bowl, the Vikings would still be looking to make a huge splash in free agency and another run at a ring. This time, they would have the cap space to sign whoever they wanted. Along with free agent DT Sheldon Richardson, the Vikings would sign G Andrew Norwell to a big money contract. With little holes to fill on the roster the main differences in the draft would be in the 2nd round – the team drafts DT B.J. Hill instead of O’Neil and in the 4th round we take TE Chris Herndon instead of Holmes. To bring this draft full circle as well, the Giants take Fred Werner in the 3rd and the Jets take TE Durham Smythe.
Regular Season: 2019
It’s difficult to say what Bridgewater’s progress would be to this point, but I believe he would still be a viable starting QB. Despite the injury to Easton and signing of Compton, the Offensive Line would still be a top 15 unit in the NFL, making a world of a difference for the season. There were three games the team lost specifically because of poor play by the Offensive Line. Week 3 vs the Bills, week 14 vs the Seahawks, and week 17 vs the Bears. With a 11-4-1 record in this new timeline the Vikings would have placed as the 3rd seed in the NFC. In the playoffs, the Vikings would roll to a super bowl appearance against the Patriots, but lose in the heart breaking fashion, which this fan base is unfortunately so used to.
Offseason: 2019
Our new timeline is now close to present day. As we re-enter the 2019 offseason, Teddy’s big new contract would be in current kirk range, thus inhibiting our ability to sign big free agents. Norwell’s contract could pose a problem, but I’m confident we would have found a way around it like we always do (shout out our cap wizard Rob). On to the draft, picking 31st in the 2019 redraft the Vikings select C Elton Jenkins to fix the hole at Left Guard. With the 61st pick in the draft the Vikings would take Defensive End Zach Allen. This would allow Vikings would address this position early in this timeline given the security at other positions. Closing the circle one final time, the Packers would take Erik McCoy and the Cardinals would select Jachai Polite. The Remainder of the draft would likely stay the same.
When comparing the two timelines there are not many differences, aside from a solid offensive line and a couple of different skill players, like Alvin Kamara. Given the new found success in 2018, John Defilippo would have gotten a head coaching job, and Gary Kubiak would most likely still be the assistant head coach. While our new timeline didn’t provide a super bowl ring, it did save Teddy`s leg and career.Which one do you prefer? Are you willing to give up the Minnesota Miracle for a better offensive line? Do you think Kamara, and Ramczyk would fare better than Cook and Remmers?
Personally, I prefer the real timeline with Cousins, because I think he could do more than what Teddy could have done. It seems the team was destined to be gunning for a super bowl this season no matter who the Quarterback was.Thank you for reading PurplePTSD`s multiverse style “What If” article. Leave a comment and tell us what other “What If” scenarios you guys would like to read about, or if you feel this timeline should have gone differently!