Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton was signed by the Carolina Panthers earlier this year to, not only offer support to the newer quarterbacks on the roster but also compete for the starting role in the team.
This is the 35-year-old’s fifth franchise in the NFL after spells with the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints. He is one of the most experienced QBs in the league.
Dalton Can Help Carolina Recovery
Although the Panthers finished the 2022/23 campaign with a losing 7-10 record, there were some positive signs last season. They finished second in their division, and it was the first time since 2018 that they had won seven games.
With Dalton on their roster, Carolina is +350 in the online betting to win the NFC South this season. It has been eight years since they last lifted the title.
How much game time Dalton sees in the early stages of the season will be documented at Paddy Power News and other sports outlets covering the NFL. However, even if he does not take to the field, he will be on the sidelines with a headset on, offering his support to the starting QB. That’s a role the likes of Alex Smith, Case Keenum, and Ryan Fitzpatrick all did well at the back end of their careers.
Early Success in NFL
This will be Dalton’s 13th consecutive year involved in the NFL after being drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was named as a Pro Bowler in 2011, 2014, and 2016.
Dalton’s best year in the NFL so far came in 2013. He finished the campaign with 33 passing touchdowns, 4,293 passing yards, and he helped his team qualify for the playoffs with an 11-5 record. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, they were beaten by the San Diego Chargers 27-10 in the Wildcard Round.
The former TCU QB led the Bengals to the offseason in each of the opening five years he was with the franchise. Sadly for him, he was not able to win a playoff game with Cincinnati.
Break with Cowboys Due to Dak’s Injury
Dalton showed how useful he can be in a backup role when he was with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. Their starting QB, Dak Prescott, picked up an injury in week five against the New York Giants which ruled him out for the rest of the season. He came off the bench to help them win that game against their NFC East rivals 37-34, as Bleacher Report documented.
Although the season did not end the way Dallas would have wanted, Dalton won four of the nine games he started, with victories coming over the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
The way Dalton played in Texas earned him a contract with the Chicago Bears the following season, while in 2022, he was named as the starting QB for the New Orleans Saints.
Carolina fans have a lot to be excited about in 2023 and beyond. They have drafted players that will hopefully take them back to the Super Bowl, and those potential stars will learn a lot from the likes of Dalton and the other veteran players this season.