Andy Dalton News

The Carolina Panthers have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton's new contract is reportedly worth $8 million in guarantees with a ceiling potential for $17 million. Expect the veteran to compete for a starting role with Carolina's potential first overall rookie selection. On 378 attempts last season, Dalton ranked seventh among quarterbacks with a 82.1 Pro Football Focus offensive rating while recording 252 completions for 18 touchdowns, 2871 yards, and a 4.1% big-time throw rate.

The deal contains $8 million guaranteed. The Panthers will be 35-year-old Dalton's fifth different team in the last five years after spending nine seasons with the Bengals. Dalton started 14 games for the Saints last season, completing 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,871 yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. In Carolina, he'll be the presumed backup to whichever quarterback the Panthers select with the No. 1 overall pick next month.

Dalton got out to a solid start Week 18, as he went 4-for-4 passing for 59 yards and a 25-yard passing touchdown on the opening drive. However, he still wound up logging fewer than 200 passing yards for the fifth time in his 14 starts this season. The 35-year-old signal-caller finishes the 2022 campaign with a 66.7 completion percentage on 378 attempts for 2,871 for 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Dalton was expected to serve as the Saints' No. 2 quarterback after signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the team last offseason, though he took over the starting job after Jameis Winston missed time with back and ankle injuries early in the season. With Winston still under contract heading into the 2023 campaign, it's unclear if the team will want to bring Dalton back for another year.

Dalton and the Saints were in surprisingly positive game script throughout the contest, so he wasn't asked to do much. He threw an interception just before halftime deep in Philadelphia territory, but Dalton otherwise managed the game effectively. Despite the victory, Dalton has now failed to throw for multiple touchdowns in four of his last five games, and he's topped 204 passing yards just once in that span.

Dalton attempted a season-low 15 passes during Saturday's frigid temperatures and steady winds. With top wideout Chris Olave (hamstring) inactive, the 35-year-old signal-caller was also let down with multiple drops by New Orleans' receivers. This included an interception late in the first quarter on a pass that bounced off the hands of tight end Juwan Johnson and directly to awaiting Browns safety Grant Delpit. Dalton went on to attempt just seven passes over the remaining three quarters of the game, as the Saints offense shifted to an option rushing attack between versatile quarterback Taysom Hill and running back Alvin Kamara. However, Dalton still accounted for all of the team's passing attempts in this game, so this unique game plan is unlikely to affect his official status as the team's starting quarterback moving forward.

Dalton logged season lows in passing yards and attempts during the Saints' run-heavy attack Week 15. He also wasn't involved in the team's longest play from scrimmage, as change-of-pace quarterback Taysom Hill connected with Rashid Shaheed for a 68-yard touchdown in the first quarter. However, Dalton once again showed why he deserves to be the team's starting quarterback, completing at least 64 percent of his passes for the eighth time in his 11 starts this season. He also connected with Juwan Johnson for two touchdowns during the tight end's return from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. Dalton's fantasy upside should remain limited if New Orleans continues to utilize a two-quarterback approach Week 16 versus Cleveland.