Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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Panthers Keep Andy Dalton In Carolina For Another Two Years

Andy Dalton to remain with the Panthers till 2027

Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Two years ago in 2023, the Carolina Panthers signed quarterback Andy Dalton on a two-year deal and named him the starter in the offseason. He eventually lost the job to the Panthers’ number-one pick rookie Bryce Young spending most of the season on the bench. Last year, however, as the struggles of Young continued, Dalton was given the opportunity to start games but in the 5 games he started, he went 1-4 and Young was reinstated as the starter.

With his two-year deal coming to an end, Carolina has reached another 2-year agreement with the 37-year-old which further extends him till 2027. The deal is reportedly worth $8 million with a guarantee of $6 million and can go up to $10 million in performance-based incentives. Earlier, in 2023, Dalton had signed a similar two-year deal that paid him $10 million.

More about the Panthers re-signing backup QB Andy Dalton to two-year deal, via @DNewtonespn:https://t.co/VLnKJ3bN9K
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 19, 2025

Why Have The Panthers Extended Andy Dalton?

So, what led to the Panthers deciding to keep Dalton in Carolina for another two years? It is not like he is getting any younger. The former Bengals’ quarterback is set to turn 38 within 2 months of the 2025 season and he has not had much success outside of his days in Cincinnati.

Quite possibly the most important reason to keep Dalton as the backup is the value he adds to the quarterback room. As a veteran of 14 years, the TCU graduate packs in a whole lot of experience and it is this invaluable asset that is helping Young to develop. Dalton has been the guiding force and plays the mentor role to Young leading to a healthy relationship between the two.

Andy Dalton’s Career Thus Far

Dalton, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2011 draft spent his first nine seasons with the team before moving on to various franchises. Dalton’s career in Cincinnati was decent to begin with as he led the team to five straight postseason appearances. However, he went 0-4 in the playoffs and did not play in their 2015 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a thumb injury. Following the 2015 season, the team regressed and Dalton was released in 2020.

Since then, the 3-time Pro Bowler had one-year stints with the Cowboys, Bears, and the Saints before making his way to Carolina in 2023. As a former starter in the league, Dalton brings great value in terms of leadership, guidance, and a role model which is exactly what the Panthers are looking for as they continue to rebuild this year.

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Andy Dalton

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Devavrat Kulkarni

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I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!