Cincinnati released veteran quarterback Andy Dalton Thursday, officially turning the reigns over to No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow. Dalton had been the starting quarterback for the Bengals since 2011, and is Cincinnati’s career leader in touchdown passes.
Burrow, however, has been tabbed as the next franchise signal-caller, and keeping two large salaries at that position wasn’t tenable. Dalton was in the last year of his deal and was set to earn. $17.7 million.
Dalton had asked for a trade, but the Bengals apparently couldn’t find a suitable partner. Dalton knew he probably wouldn’t be back, and told the media after the last game of the 2019 season he enjoyed his time in Cincinnati.
“This city’s been great to us,†Dalton said. “A lot of support has been received in this city. This city has been our home since I got drafted here, and this city’s meant a lot. I’m thankful for all the people that we’ve met.â€
Dalton Release Leads to Uncertain Future
With Dalton released from Cincinnati, the question now is where will he go? Oddsmakers believe he could end up in Jacksonville, and DraftKings have the Jaguars as the +250 favorite.
Andy Dalton Next Team Odds
| Team | March 22 Odds | April 16 Odds |
| Jacksonville | +400 | +250 |
| Cincinnati | +500 | +300 |
| New England | +200 | +500 |
| LA Chargers | +900 | +1000 |
| Denver | +1500 | +1200 |
| Pittsburgh | +3300 | +1200 |
| Washington | +250 | +2000 |
Source: DraftKings
Jacksonville traded Nick Foles to Chicago in March, leaving Gardner Minshew as the starter. Management might want to bring in Dalton to compete for the starting job.
Minshew took over for an injured Foles. The rookie started 12 games and compiled a 6-6 record. Minshew was 285-of-470 passing for 3,271 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Cincinnati had been listed as the second choice at +300, but those odds will drop with Dalton being released. New England could be a landing spot for Dalton, but the Patriots are up against the salary cap, and can’t afford a high-profile quarterback.
FanDuel has Dalton as the second pick at +200 to be New England’s starter for the 2020 season. Current Patriots QB Jarret Stidham is the -200 favorite to be the next starter.
High Supply, Low Demand at Quarterback
In addition to Dalton’s salary being an issue, there are several available quarterbacks and not that many teams that need one.
The biggest name still unsigned is Cam Newton. The former Carolina Panther would be competing with Dalton for a spot if Jacksonville decides it wants to sign one of the two free agents. FanDuel has the Jaguars as the +200 favorite to be Newton’s next team.
Most of the other 32 teams have their quarterback situations resolved, and bringing in someone like Dalton or Newton would be an expensive proposition. Other cheaper options for backups are out there, including Joe Flacco, Drew Stanton, and Josh McCown.