The Cincinnati Bengals are staring at a massive opportunity this offseason. With superstar quarterback Joe Burrow secured long-term and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase set to sign a contract extension, the Bengals will continue to be a competitive squad moving forward.
However, how the Bengals handle the rest of their roster building and salary cap management will be crucial in determining their ceiling as a club during that period.
As the Bengals look to move forward and build out a stout defense to help the Burrow-led offense, there is going to be plenty of roster changes on the horizon.
With the offseason having arrived for most teams, though, one former Bengals quarterback could land a new job amid the player movement chaos.
Andy Dalton, who spent his first nine seasons in the NFL and 133 starts with Cincinnati, is entering free agency this offseason after spending the season with the Carolina Panthers in a backup role.
Andy Dalton of the Carolina Panthers
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
If the 37-year-old quarterback is looking for a potential role where he could see more starts — like he did in favor of Bryce Young this season — he could end up with the Cleveland Browns, as analyst Adam Gerstenhaber recently pitched on “The Bullpen” podcast.
“Andy Dalton has been a clear backup, and he’s worked with a lot of young quarterbacks, and from all accounts, he’s been a great mentor,” Gerstenhaber explained. “We saw Bryce Young with Andy Dalton this year really take off when he got his second chance. I think Andy Dalton, I know people know him from the Bengals, of course, but I think he could be a great influence on a young quarterback.”
The Browns need to turn the page in terms of the signal-caller leading the team, and bringing in a young quarterback as well as Dalton could be exactly what they need.
