5 backup quarterback pivots for Detroit Lions not named Teddy Bridgewater

The Detroit Lions made a contract offer, reported by ESPN to be a "strong" one, to quarterback Teddy Bridgewater back around Easter. For some reason, some may say overvaluing himself or his chances to be a starter somewhere, he did not take it.

The Lions' interest in Bridgewater came to light again this week when he came in for a visit on Monday. Head coach Dan Campbell said he is all for the idea of adding Bridgewater, as pure competition for Nate Sudfeld for who will be Jared Goff's backup. It's fair to say Bridgewater would replace Sudfeld in the role, there would be no actual competition. But even after the visit on Monday, which Campbell said went well, signing Bridgewater was not considered imminent. And it's probably not the Lions who are hesitating to get a deal done.

Sudfeld was put on the roster bubble a bit by Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire, with reference to how the Lions pivoted to him late last preseason after letting David Blough go and getting Tim Boyle back on the practice squad before the Chicago Bears poached him. So if Sudfeld struggles during the preseason, like Blough and Boyle did a year ago, a change could easily be made. And it wouldn't necessarily have to be Bridgewater, if what he wants and what the Lions are willing to (or should) give him still don't match.

If they don't sign Bridgewater, here are five other backup quarterback pivot options the Lions could consider.

5 backup quarterback pivot options for the Detroit Lions not named Teddy Bridgewater

5. Malik Willis (Tennessee Titans)

Willis may or may not be in danger of not making the Titans' roster, depending on that day's sentiment. Head coach Mike Vrabel most recently said he has shown "glaring improvement" since his less than impressive run of play as a rookie last year. Not that it'd be hard to do that in OTA practices.

But rookie Will Levis is not going anywhere, and if someone has to give in the competition to be Ryan Tannehill's direct backup it's lined up to be Willis.

The Lions were offered up earlier this month as a potential landing spot for Willis should he become available, by Chris Trappaso of CBS Sports. As a pure flier on raw talent to add to the quarterback room, it makes some sense. As a viable option to step in if Goff were to go down, Willis is far more questionable. But maybe, in some sense, he's no more questionable than Sudfeld (with zero NFL starts) is as a possible Goff fill-in to keep the Lions' offense on the rails.

4. Trey Lance (San Francisco 49ers)

With Brock Purdy (elbow) apparently cleared and ready to go for training camp, Lance's status with the 49ers is again naturally questionable. Sam Darnold was added to the depth chart this offseason, and he'd be the presumptive top candidate to be the No. 2 guy based on experience alone.

Even as the 49ers would want to keep quarterback depth around, based on recent history of being a bit snake bit in that area, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft may become a tradeable asset if they're willing to showcase him during the preseason. And they should be willing to do so.

The Lions should still have their eye on Lance to some extent, and be ready to possibly make a trade offer.

3. Carson Wentz (Free Agent)

It has been quite a fall, and a fast fall, for Wentz. The Washington Commanders became the second team in as many years to see enough of him for one season to know they needed to move on ASAP. He has surely been humbled to a large extent, and right after Wasington cut him this offseason he made sure it got out there he's willing to take on whatever role a team will give him.

Wentz has been easy to tie to a few teams who have questionable depth at quarterback (Las Vegas Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers), yet he remains without a team as all 32 teams roll into training camp. The Lions, sans signing Bridgewater sometime soon, can absolutely be put into the category of teams with iffy depth behind their starting signal caller.

Wentz was of course the second overall pick in the 2016 draft, one pick after Lions quarterback Jared Goff was taken by the Rams. That is more interesting than an invitation for controversy should Wentz land in Detroit. For whatever it might be worth, Wentz had one of his most productive games last season for Washington in Week 2 against the Lions.

Wentz is more name than game at this point, and probably always has been if we're being honest. But the Lions could pivot to him as an experienced backup option if a deal can't be struck with Bridgewater. The sentiment they are content with Sudfeld is gone based on their lingering interest in Bridgewater, and any viable potential options have to be on the radar.

2. Sam Ehlinger (Indianapolis Colts)

Ehlinger started three games for the Colts last season, with the expected results on a bad team (63.4 percent completion rate, 76.1 passer rating, three touchdowns, three interceptions, sacked 14 times). He was simply not fully ready to play, but there weren't any better options with how badly Matt Ryan and Nick Foles had played. If not for Jeff Saturday coming in as head coach and inexplicably going back to Ryan, there would have been a case for Ehlinger to start the rest of a lost season.

That said, Ehlinger completed more than 64 percent of his passes in three of his four total appearances last year, with a passer rating over 97 in two games. A rough outing against the New England Patriots (15-for-29, 103 yards, one interception, 45.6 passer rating, nine sacks taken) skewed things strongly negative. His sample of work was also smaller than it should have been.

Ehlinger came into the NFL with raw tools and prowess as a runner. The Colts are leaning into Anthony Richardson as their quarterback of the future. Gardner Minshew followed Shane Steichen to Indianapolis from Philadelphia to be Richardson's backup and mentor. Carrying three quarterbacks on the final 53 coming out of camp is possible, and Ehlinger forced their hand to do so last year with a strong showing in the preseason.

Ehlinger may be cut, or the Colts may look to trade him for whatever they can. In any case, the Lions should have an eye on him as a pivot option to fill the No. 2 spot behind Goff.

1. Davis Mills (Houston Texans)

Mills has shown starter potential over two seasons with the Texans. He had the second-best passer rating among rookie signal callers in 2021 (88.5, behind only Mac Jones-92.5). He completed a nice 66.8 percent of his passes, with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 games (11 starts).

But Mills has never really felt like the long-term guy in Houston, amid a lot of losing and prime spots to take a quarterback high in the draft.

With the Texans fielding arguably the worst roster in the league, again, Mills had a broad drop-off last year. His passer rating dropped to 78.8, and he tied for the league-high with 15 interceptions over 15 starts.

Houston has committed to C.J. Stroud as their quarterback of the future after taking him in April's draft. Case Keenum was signed this offseason, seemingly with an eye on him being a veteran mentor to an incoming rookie. Which of course happened, leaving Mills possibly as the No. 3 guy on the depth chart heading into the season. Stroud being the starter right away is pretty much a foregone conclusion.

The Texans may want to keep Mills around, and that would be understandable. But a team with questions behind their starting quarterback, like the Lions, should be watching how things take shape in Houston. Mills could be a tradeable asset for them. In a Hendon Hooker-less vacuum, he would also be a sneaky candidate to be Detroit's future starting quarterback.