Meet the newest member of the New Orleans Saints, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater points during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Landover, Md. The Redskins won 15-13. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up during the New York Jets Washington Redskins NFL football training camp in Richmond, Va., Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) smiles on the sidelines during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is sacked by New York Giants defensive end Kerry Wynn (72) during the third quarter of a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) scrambles during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Landover, Md. The Redskins won 15-13. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) hands the ball to Bilal Powell (29) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) scrambles during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Landover, Md. The Redskins won 15-13. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) in action against the Atlanta Falcons during a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater talks to reporters after a practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Monday, Aug. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater talks to reporters after a practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Sunday, July 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater warms up before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater calls a play at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) looks to hand the ball off during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Autey)
FILE - In this Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers in Minneapolis. Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman says the organization has not yet determined whether to activate quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the physically unable to perform list next week. Spielman told reporters that Bridgewater will be evaluated again following practice on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King, File)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) passes during warmups before a preseason NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) passes on the field during warmups before a preseason NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater smiles on the bench against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) looks to hand off the ball in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2016, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) scrambles as San Diego Chargers cornerback Adrian Phillips (31) defends during an NFL preseason football game in Minneapolis. The Vikings placed Bridgewater on injured reserve Wednesday, Aug. 31, the day after their starting quarterback suffered a dislocated left knee, torn anterior cruciate ligament and other significant damage during a non-contact drill during practice. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced that the club has acquired quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the New York Jets in a trade. The club has also signed wide receiver Tanner McEvoy.
Bridgewater, 6-2, 215, was originally a first round draft pick (32nd overall) of the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 out of Louisville. Bridgewater saw his first NFL action against the Saints in Week Three of his rookie campaign and then subsequently took over the starting job, opening 28 consecutive regular season games and one postseason contest for the Vikings. As a rookie in 2014, in 13 games he completed 259-of-402 passes (64.4%) for 2,919 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while carrying 47 times for 209 yards and one touchdown, earning Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year and PFWA All-Rookie honors. In 2015, the Miami native completed 292-of-447 passes (65.3%) for 3,231 yards with 14 touchdowns, nine interceptions and an 88.7 passer rating, while carrying 44 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Vikings to an 11-5 record and the NFC North title. Bridgewater was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2016, Bridgewater suffered a knee injury in a preseason practice that sidelined him for the entire campaign before returning to play in a contest late in the 2017 season. For his persistence, Bridgewater was voted by his teammates as the club's 2016 Ed Block Courage Award winner. Overall, he has played in 30 regular season games with 28 starts, completing 551-of-851 passes (64.7%) for 6,150 yards with 28 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and an 86.3 passer rating. Bridgewater has also carried 94 times for 298 yards and four touchdowns.
Bridgewater signed with the New York Jets in the 2018 offseason and completed 28-of-38 passes (73.7%) for 316 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and a 104.7 passer rating this preseason.
Bridgewater helped lead a resurgence for the Louisville football program where he posted a 27-9 record as a starter, 23-3 in his final two seasons. He set the school record with a 68.4% completion percentage, while throwing only 24 interceptions in 1,142 pass attempts. As a sophomore in 2012, he piloted the Big East Conference Champion Cardinals to a 33-23 Allstate Sugar Bowl victory over fourth-ranked Florida and was named the conference's offensive player of the year. In 2013, he led his team to a 12-1 mark and a win over Miami (Fla.) in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
"We are very pleased to obtain a young player with quite a bit of playing experience in Teddy Bridgewater," said Loomis. "He's a successful quarterback and we know he will be a great addition to our quarterback room."
"We are excited to add Teddy Bridgewater to our team," said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. "We look forward to working with him and watching him continue to develop as a player."
McEvoy, 6-6, 230, was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin in 2016. In two seasons with Seattle, he played in 29 games and recorded 14 receptions for 253 yards with two touchdowns, while on special teams, he added a blocked punt, four tackles and one forced fumble. He also completed a 43-yard pass against the Saints in Week Eight of the 2016 season. The Oradell, N.J. native played safety, running back, quarterback and wide receiver over three season at Wisconsin (2013-15). He played in 38 games overall with 21 starts for the Badgers. He saw action in 24 games on defense, recording 74 tackles, seven interceptions and 11 passes defensed. He carried 72 times for 706 yards and eight touchdowns and had 10 receptions for 109 yards. Under center, he completed 65-of-112 attempts for 709 yards with five touchdowns.
