Cincinnati Bengals Reportedly Working with Andy Dalton on Trade
After months of speculation, the Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly going to work with Andy Dalton on a trade.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has reported that the Cincinnati Bengals are going to work with Andy Dalton on a trade.
From NFL Now: The #Bengals are willing to work with QB Andy Dalton on a trade, I'm told, a plan that has been communicated to him. This meshes with what exec Duke Tobin told me a few weeks ago that when decisions happen, "I'll be in contact with him." (https://t.co/rrfjo3eYy9) pic.twitter.com/WPr3gb65rV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2020
This news comes after Bengals de-facto general manager Duke Tobin had this to say at the Senior Bowl at the beginning of January,
"“I can tell you one thing, what Andy Dalton’s done for the Cincinnati Bengals is not something we’re going to forget and we’re not going to just willy-nilly, make something happen with him that, a) he’s uncomfortable with and, b) that we’re uncomfortable with.”"
The discussion of the possibility of trading Dalton arose after first-year head coach Zac Taylor benched the veteran to evaluate rookie Ryan Finley.
The 2011 second-round draft pick came back to finish the season after a brief spell on the bench and led the team to their only two wins of the season. However, it remained clear that Dalton was no longer in Cincinnati’s plans for the long term future.
With the high probability that the front office will select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall selection in this year’s draft, the time seems right for both sides to work out a trade.
The free-agent market for quarterbacks may have to be settled before a deal gets done, however. With big names like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers set to test the free agency waters, teams may wait to see where they land before striking a trade with the Bengals.
Dalton has had his ups and downs in stripes but throughout the course of his career, he’s accumulated good numbers. The former TCU signal-caller has completed 62% of his passes, thrown for over 31,000 yards, and cashed in on a franchise-record 204 touchdown passes. In addition, he led the team to the postseason 5 times, earning 3 Pro Bowl appearances, 3 AFC player of the week awards, and 2 AFC player of the months along the way.
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Whatever team ends up securing Dalton will be acquiring a veteran player that has had a solid career thus far.