Saturday’s matchup between the Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will feature two of the most promising young quarterbacks in the NFL.
Of course the Vikings’ Teddy Bridgewater is in his second season, while Tampa Bay’s young signal-caller was the first player selected in this year’s NFL draft, Jameis Winston.
Winston led Florida State to the 2013 BCS National Championship, and won the Heisman Trophy that season. He completed 67 percent of his passes for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions.
Last season, he threw for 3,907 yards and 25 touchdowns, while helping lead Florida State to a 13-1 record.
“I’m extremely excited for Jameis to take part in his first NFL game,” Bridgewater told reporters Thursday. “Although it’s preseason, the atmosphere is going to be different than it was in college. I’m pretty sure he’s a competitive guy. I watched him throughout his college career and had a chance to talk to him when we were in college together, so I know that he’s excited, and I wish him the best.”
Teddy bridgewater said good things about Jameis Winston debut hopes he and Winston can be nfl future at qb
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 13, 2015
It’s hard not to look at the game as a matchup of two of the best young quarterbacks in the game, even though Bridgewater has played just one season and Winston hasn’t played as much as a preseason game.
In 12 starts last season, Bridgewater threw for 2,919 yards and 14 touchdowns. He helped the Vikings finish 7-9 as a rookie – without Adrian Peterson. In Sunday’s preseason debut Bridgewater looked sharp, hitting of 5-of-6 passes for 44 yards.
“They both certainly have the potential to be two great quarterbacks in this league,” Vikings receiver Charles Johnson told the Pioneer Press. “Hopefully, our guy grows, and (Winston) grows as well. If they continue to work and continue to develop, the sky is the limit.”
