Another one of the quarterback dominos has fallen. Andy Dalton will be signing with the Bears, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
It’s a one-year deal worth $10MM that carries an additional $3MM in incentives, Schefter reports. We heard earlier this morning that the Bears were interested, and they were able to get something done. Chicago had been “circling” for a few days and the 49ers also had interest in his services, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. San Francisco’s interest is eyebrow-raising, and Dalton’s presence would’ve put some heat on Jimmy Garoppolo.
Understandably, Dalton opted to go with the team where he has a clearer path to starting duties. Financially, it’s very similar to the deal Ryan Fitzpatrick signed with Washington last night, which was also for one year and $10MM + incentives. Jameis Winston‘s new deal with the Saints is worth “up to” $12MM, so this appears to be where the bar has been set for quasi-starters with teams who have uncertain futures under center.
Mitchell Trubisky is a free agent and not expected to return to the Bears. Nick Foles is still on the roster, but Dalton can likely be penciled in as the starter for now. That being said, the commitment to him isn’t too large, and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Chicago opted to still draft a rookie early or try to pull off a miracle trade. As of a couple weeks ago they were apparently all-in on a pursuit of Russell Wilson.
It’s unclear if this signing will alter those plans at all. Dalton was the Bengals’ starter from 2011-19, and had some real success, making the Pro Bowl three times and leading them to the playoffs in five straight seasons at one point. He was allowed to walk as Cincy entered a rebuild, and ended up in Dallas as a backup last year. After Dak Prescott‘s season-ending injury, he took over under center.
In 11 games and nine starts for the Cowboys, he finished with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions while averaging 6.5 yards per attempt. Not exactly eye-popping numbers, but he was in a tough situation.
There’s also a lot of familiarity here, as Bill Lazor is the Bears’ new offensive coordinator. Lazor was Dalton’s QBs coach and then OC for a few years in Cincinnati. Assuming Dalton is the starter, he’ll be tasked with saving the jobs of head coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace, both of whom are on very thin ice entering 2021.
*derp*
OH CMON
Apparently, Trubisky was a bridge QB between Glennon and Dalton.
Hopefully they have another move yet
Yeah, out the door.
Yeah beginning to look like it
Let’s now get AJ Green as are Number 3 receiver
Get him a #2 opposite Robinson and a RB to spell Montgomery.
Dalton had great receivers, a very solid running game and much better O-line last year with the Cowboys and still couldn’t do a damn thing. The Bears are going nowhere with that clown.
Ok good, so their QB problem is solved. I was worried there for a few. LOL
#FireRyanPace
For real? Pace and the amazing front office couldn’t put a solid package together to acquire Wilson or Watson? It’s just disappointing at this point. Being a bear fan is rough.
Neither of them are going anyplace.
It’s not the Bears’ fault – they simply don’t have the trade pieces to acquire either Watson or Wilson. Watson will only go to the Jets or Dolphins, assuming Houston is willing to trade him.
But it IS their fault. That genius Pace drafted Trubisky over Watson/Mahomes. He could’ve had EITHER one and they’d be in a great place right now… Now they’re stuck with another also ran. They’re an embarrassment.
This!
Bears fans are loyal fans.
There’s no reason not to be loyal. The NFL wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for George Halas. No team has a richer history and no team has more players in the HOF. The team hasn’t had success in recent years but 10 league titles still count for something.
Hopefully he’s being sent in the Wilson trade
Wilson isn’t goin anyplace.
Completely awful
Couldnt the smartest guy in the room in 2017 draft just had signed Dalton last year for $3mil??? SMH
#firepace
Pace doesn’t have the bullets to go get Watson, and no way Seattle takes that cap hit to trade Wilson. Beyond those two there was not much out there. Best case for a QB is the Jets either with a trade for Darnold (hoping better talent/coaching will fix him) or being able to package ARob and picks to get their #2 pick and then take your pick between Fields and Wilson.
I feel sorry for Bears fans.
I’ll take whatever pity I can get right now. FML…
Unfortunately for Bears fans that Mitch pick will haunt us forever, and Pace should have been fired for it.
Ah hahahahahahahahahaha
Obviously Pace has at least 3 lives to live as the Bears GM. Mitch over Watson, Foles over Dalton, then being only able to fix the Dalton mistake, which of course might not have been a mistake. Being a Bears fan is like a sad old country song.
Oh sweet, all of this Prescott stuff was a smokescreen, Pace tricked everyone and got his man, Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl…… Sarcasm….. Oh no, we suck again!!!!!
Loser organization, 33 years of fandom and I can’t take it anymore, same problem all 33 years of my life SELL THE TEAM
This was probably best they could realistically do.
The idea they were getting Wilson or Watson was a pipe dream.
Not thrilled, but plenty of QBs who did well early in careers found success later after bouncing around. Dalton not the worst, and they still have Foles.
I mean what else were they going to do? Dalton is less trash than Foles, fwiw.
They don’t have the pieces for a Watson or Wilson trade, and Fitzpatrick and Winston are off the board. Clearly (or hopefully) they will draft a qb as well and probably trade up to do so. Pace’s track record is terrible in that department obviously, but what else can they do?
How would you armchair GMs solve the Bears qb situation?
Not sign Andy Dalton on day 2 of free agency
There literally are no second-tier QBs left on board. Taylor and Brissett also signed. They had to do it on day two.
I’ve always called Russ Wilson the rich mans Andy Dalton so this move makes perfect sense.
Dalton should of gone back to Dallas. Dak is not 4 times better than Andy. Dallas could of traded Dak for players and picks to have a better complete team. I understand the going rate of a top QB starts at 40+ but why pay Dak that much now. Let him earn it first. He’s done nothing to show he’s worth top dollar yet.
Bears had hopes of Wilson and instead get another year of cringeworthy offense. The good news any GM that’s bets his future on 2021 Andy Dalton will undoubtably be gone in 2022
Signing Dalton does not solves the QB situation for the Bears for their QB of the future both QBs are not the answer to the QB problem in Chicago either Pace trades up and get one of the best QBs and I mean one of the best ones or somehow get a hound good QB by a trade or more likely it’s Bye- bye Pace
Anyone who thought the Bears would end up with Russel Wilson was delusional. They didn’t have anywhere close to the assets required to pull a trade like that off. Trading for Wilson or Watson for that matter would require the biggest haul any team has ever received in a trade in NFL history.
No one except the twitter morons who posted it ever really believed that click bait BS.
Packers secondary must grinning ear to ear right now..they get goff dalton and cousins in there division
The Cubs won a World Series. Now it is tie for the Bears to stink for 100 years.