Teddy Bridgewater’s second stint as Sam Darnold’s teammate might be shorter than the first.

Bridgewater and his agent have found multiple teams interested in making a trade for the 28-year-old quarterback, according to NFL Network. The Panthers gave permission to Bridgewater and his agent to find a trade partner earlier this week, after they replaced him as their starting quarterback with Darnold’s acquisition.

In order to get a deal done, however, Bridgewater is going to need to take a pay cut. His contract pays a $17 million base salary, including $10 million guaranteed. That’s not in line with the market for a quarterback who either would be a backup or in a competition to start. Perhaps one of the teams expected to draft a first-round quarterback — like the Jaguars – or one who is uncertain about its young starter – like the Broncos – would add Bridgewater.   

Bridgewater signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Panthers last offseason, when it looked like he was going to be their multi-year starter. After a disappointing first season, the Panthers traded three draft picks to the Jets for Darnold.

Bridgewater was a Pro Bowler for the 2015 Vikings before a career-threatening knee injury. Looking to restart his career, Bridgewater signed with the Jets as a free agent in 2018 and was teammates with a rookie Darnold for a few months.

Once the Jets decided to go with Darnold as their starter and Josh McCown as their backup in late August, they traded Bridgewater to the Saints, where he spent two years backing up Drew Brees.