ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos have acquired a proven veteran to add competition to their quarterback room.
Denver has agreed to trade for Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the team announced on Wednesday. The Broncos will send their 2021 sixth-round pick to Panthers in return for Bridgewater.
"Acquiring Teddy Bridgewater adds competition, experience and a strong veteran presence to our quarterback room," General Manager George Paton said in a statement. "He's a talented player and leader who's had success in this league in a number of different situations. Being familiar with Teddy from Minnesota, he's going to compete and do everything he can to help us win."
Bridgewater, a seven-year veteran, started 15 games for Carolina in his lone season with the Panthers. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound player completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 3,733 yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 279 yards and five touchdowns.
The Panthers traded for Jets quarterback Sam Darnold earlier in April, which led to the team's decision to trade Bridgewater to the Broncos.
Bridgewater will join a quarterback room in Denver that includes Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel. Lock started 13 games for the Broncos in 2020 and completed 57.3 percent of his passes for 2,933 yards, 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Bridgewater's best season came in 2015, when he made the Pro Bowl after leading the Vikings to an 11-5 record as a second-year player. He completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 3,231 yards, 14 touchdowns, nine interceptions and three rushing touchdowns.
He then suffered a serious knee injury ahead of the 2016 season that forced him to miss all of the 2016 campaign and nearly all of the 2017 season. After 2017, he signed with the New Orleans Saints, for whom he was a backup for two seasons. He was 5-0 as a starter for the Saints in 2019 in place of an injured Drew Brees.
In Denver, Bridgewater will provide competition at the position. Paton has said since the start of the offseason that the Broncos intended to add another player to the quarterback room.
"We've evaluated all the quarterbacks," Paton said after the first wave of free agency. "We like Drew Lock. We have a plan in place and there's free agency, there's the draft, there's trades, there's a lot of ways to acquire a quarterback. Fortunately, we have a quarterback here and we have a nice quarterback room. We do want to bring in competition. We are not going to force it. We are monitoring the market right now."
The Broncos hold the ninth-overall pick in Thursday's NFL Draft, and Paton previously said drafting a quarterback is "in play" with that selection.
After the Broncos agreed to a trade to acquire veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, take a look back at his extensive career with photos dating back to a storied time at the University of Louisville.
Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater prepares to hand the ball off during the first half of their NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) tries to get away from Marshall defender Phillip Warren in an NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. Bridgewater was sacked five times as Marshall came from behind to beat Louisville 17-13. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)
North Carolina's Zach Brown (47) chases Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) fires a first half pass against the South Florida during an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, in Tampa, Fla. Bridgewater was 19 of 28 for 241 yards in Louisville's 34-24 win. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater (5) prepares to throw a pass as North Carolina State's Markus Kuhn (91) closes in during the first half of the Belk Bowl NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater waves to fans following Louisville's 28-21 victory over Florida International in an NCAA college football game in Miami, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater calls out an audible during the second quarter against Southern Mississippi in an NCAA college football game in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. No. 19 Louisville won 21-17. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) looks to pass as Pittsburgh defensive lineman T.J. Clemmings (90) pressures in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 in Pittsburgh. Louisville won 45-35. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. Louisville won 20-17. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2013, file photo, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater throws before the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Florida in New Orleans. Bridgewater's ability to remain efficient could determine where he is in December and whether Louisville's season will end in January. (AP Photo/Bill Haber, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2013, file photo, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater reacts at the end of a 33-23 win over Florida in the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans. Bridgewater's ability to remain efficient could determine where he is in December and whether Louisville's season will end in January. (AP Photo/Bill Haber, File)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) watches the pageantry unfold after a 33-23 win over Florida in the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Louisville quarterback Teddy bridgewater rolls out looking to pass against Eastern Kentucky in a NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Bridgewater led Louisville to a 44-7 victory. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater calls a play during the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky. Louisville defeated Kentucky 27-13. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) celebrates with fans in the student section after shutting out winless Florida International 72-0 in a NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Sept, 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)
Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater prior to an NCAA college football game against Connecticut, in East Hartford, Conn., Friday Nov. 8, 2013.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) leaps to avoid a tackle by Miami linebacker Thurston Armbrister during the second half of the Russell Athletic Bowl NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Fresno State Quarterback Derek Carr, University of Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and Texas A&M University quarterback Johnny Manziel look on at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2014, file photo, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater sits on the bench at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. In 2014, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater decided not to throw in Indy then had a less-than-stellar Pro Day at Louisville. The result: A player thought to be in the running as the No. 1 overall pick was still available at the end of the first round. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater participates in a passing drill for NFL representatives during pro day at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky., Monday, March 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Teddy Bridgewater poses for a portrait at the NFL Studio in Culver City, Ca., on March 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
(L-R) LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham, Auburn offensive lineman Greg Robinson, and Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tour the September 11 Memorial on May 7, 2014 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Teddy Bridgewater hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings during the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on May 8, 2014 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Teddy Bridgewater arrives at the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on May 8, 2014 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Teddy Bridgewater speaks on the phone backstage after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings during the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on May 8, 2014 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Rose Murphy celebrates after her son Teddy Bridgewater was selected 32nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, May 8, 2014, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Teddy Bridgewater, from Louisville, embraces his mother Rose Murphy after being selected 32nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, May 8, 2014, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the 32 pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Thursday, May 8, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater calls out a play during an NFL organized team activity in Eden Prairie, Minn., Thursday, June 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater arrives at an NFL football training camp, Friday, July 25, 2014, in Mankato, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater signs autographs for fans after an NFL football training camp practice, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, in Mankato, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater drops back to pass against the Tennessee Titans in the rain during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater waves to fans as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 41-28. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) reacts to fans after a 13-yard touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) is pushed by Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon (31) as Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) walks to the locker room during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) scores a touchdown against the Detroit Lions as Brandon Fusco (63) celebrates in the first half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Fans cheer as Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) heads to the locker room following an NFL football game win over the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater runs against Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) waits to be introduced before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is pushed out of bounds by Detroit Lions outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (53) and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Minneapolis, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) evades Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones (95) during the second half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) celebrates his touchdown with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) acknowledges the fans after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Bears 38-17. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5), lifted by Chicago Bears strong safety Ryan Mundy (21), prepares to fall into the end zone for a rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings' Teddy Bridgewater tries to get away from Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews (52) during the first half an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) of Team Irvin looks to handoff the football in the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) of Team Rice, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil (58) of Team Rice, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) of Team Irvin, and Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood (70) of Team Rice are seen after the NFL Pro Bowl football game, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is pressured by Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins, right, in the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
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) watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) talks with New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) before an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) tries to avoid a tackle by Carolina Panthers outside linebacker David Mayo (55) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) =asses to wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater prepares for the snap during a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater prepares for the snap during a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater passes against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in action against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is introduced during player introductions, as part of pre-game festivities, before an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) scrambles under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Christian Covington (95) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn, right, celebrates his touchdown reception with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
New Orleans Saints' Teddy Bridgewater scrambles during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater passes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater runs between Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy, left, and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
