Why the Lions signing Teddy Bridgewater matters so much

It's finally happened! After months of flirting with each other, the Detroit Lions and Teddy Bridgewater have finally hooked up. In the contractual sense of course. This is big news. It might not feel like it, but this is a signifier of bigger things to come for the Lions. Lions fans didn't feel that way […]

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer

Aug 7, 2023 7:09 PM EDT

Lions fans didn't feel that way this afternoon when I and Erik Schlitt of Pride of Detroit teased the news. I think they were perhaps thinking that the Lions had come to terms on a five year deal with the Lombardi Trophy or something. The intention with the tease was never to make Lions fans feel like some gigantic thing was coming. That doesn't change the fact that I think this is big signing for this team.

It's not about whether or not Bridgewater will ever play a down for the Lions. The chances are relatively high that he doesn't. This is big signing because of what it says, and what is says is that the Lions believe they can make a run at this thing.

No longer do the Lions see themselves as a rebuilding team. They see themselves as contenders. That's why you prepare for being a contender by signing a premium backup quarterback in case you lose your starter for any amount of time. Bridgewater is nearly the best you can do when it comes to having a backup. We've seen time and time again that Bridgewater can lead a team to wins. At worst, he can manage a game and keep the team in it.

It's not all about trying to win big things though, it's about mentoring too. The Lions drafted Hendon Hooker in the third round of this years draft and he now gets sit under the learning tree while Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater and Mark Brunell help him learn. That's three Pro Bowl quarterbacks teaching one rookie that could potentially be the future of this team.

I'm sorry if you were expecting something massive, but you currently cheer for a team that doesn't feel like they need to make a massive move to compete. They seemed to feel like they just need to make finishing touches.