Earlier this offseason, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin left all options on the table when addressing Andy Dalton‘s future. Now, the wheels are in motion for the expected scenario to play out. The Bengals informed their longtime quarterback that they’re willing to work with him in order to facilitate a trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 
The Bengals are widely expected to take LSU’s Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick. Dalton, in theory, could return as a bridge to Burrow (or another QB), but the veteran has made it known that he wants to start in 2020.
Dalton, a second-round pick in 2011, has been the Bengals’ starter since the get-go. But, in the midst of a dreadful 2019 for the entire team, he was benched in favor of rookie Ryan Finley. Dalton got the ball back in Week 13, but he didn’t do much to change anyone’s mind. In the final four games of the season, Dalton completed just 57.9% of his throws with seven touchdowns that were tarnished by six interceptions.
For what it’s worth, Dalton was under center for the Bengals’ only two victories of the season – a 22-6 win over the Jekyll-and-Hyde Jets and W over the Browns (sans Myles Garrett) in the finale.
Dalton, 33 in October, has thrown for a franchise record 204 touchdowns. He’s also three full seasons removed from his best work. In 2016, he captured his third career Pro Bowl nomination with a 64.7% completion rate and 4,206 passing yards. Even then, his 18 passing touchdowns were nothing to write home about and the Bengals only managed a 6-9-1 record on the year.
Still, Dalton is an important part of the franchise’s history. He’s one of only five quarterbacks in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first five seasons, but when Marvin Lewis was finally fired after last year it signaled the beginning of the end. As for where the TCU product might land, that’s very much up in the air. There are a number of teams that could be interested on paper, but there are also going to be a ton of veteran quarterbacks looking for new homes. This should be one of the most active quarterback carousels in recent memory, and it’s possible Dalton is dealt sometime after the dust settles between free agency and the draft.
with the draft stack with QBS and a few vets out there looking for jobs. it really hard to say how everything will play out. i see it as we cant tell what will happen and we will have to see it play out
Someone with mid round pick and not wanting to get in FA betting war.
He’s got a roughly 17mil coming to him this year. I don’t see him getting that as a FA and no one will give up a mid round pick for him with or without a reworked contract. He’s almost like Ryan Tannehill or Blake Bortles
Ryan Tannehill is head and shoulders above him and Bortles. Highest rated QB in the NFL once he got the starting job in Tn.
Chicago
TB (Arians love former Bengals QBs)
Indy
Chicago has no draft picks to trade for him, and Ryan pace is not bringing in someone who thinks they will be starting, he’s still obsessed with Mitch trubisky
Sure they do. He’s going to cost a day 3 pick
Chicago also has limited cap space, so a trade would be harder to work out.
Not to mention that the Bears will only be offering Chase Daniels replacement a similar salary…which is far below what the Red Rifle would accept.
David Tepper/Marty Hurney on line one …
Wait till cincy cuts him, no need to trade?
Maybe the broncos can try work something.
They obviously aren’t a great team but have some good ball runners, DaeSean Hamilton, Noah Fant and a bunch of other TE’s. Give Drew Lock a year or two more to develop.
They have a good defence with Fangio as coach headlines with Chubb, Miller and Harris Jr.
Where have you been, Elway has already stated that Drew Lock is the starter for the upcoming season and that’s why they brought in Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to work with Lock. Lock finished last season with a 4-1 record only losing to KC. So that is not happening Tazza. If they were going with a veteran they would have gone after Brady.
Tbh I don’t actually watch the broncos games just highlights cause not interested in that team hahaha
Lock looked alright in college and 4-1 is alright but I’m not sure I would be sold on him as a full time starter.
I do watch the Broncos and he is definitely way better now than he was in college and the rest of the team also looks to him as a leader worth following. He needs another receiver and they need to build off the momentum they finished with. I think they are going to be very exciting to watch on both sides of the ball next year as they will be more aggressive on offense as they were on defense.
Tazza, Lock looked great down the stretch
right
I can see the Pats going after him if Brady doesn’t go back. Or possibly Bridgewater. Don’t see him staying with the Saints.
Beat hair in the L
Dalton had his window but at the end of the day he just doesn’t have the smarts. Never did. Marvin Lewis was too soft, which is why they could never take it all the way. Dalton should start thinking about life after the NFL today. He might have a few years as a back-up but that’s about it.