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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Andy Dalton just has a nice ring to it.
While Dalton remains employed by the Cincinnati Bengals for the final year of his contract, Zac Taylor and Co. are likely on to Joe Burrow at No. 1 in the 2020 NFL draft.
Dalton’s future remains in flux, though the Jaguars and offensive coordinator Jay Gruden might have an interest — for the right price — based on a note from NFL.com’s Mike Silver:
“As he hunkers down like the majority of Americans, Dalton is doing his best not to obsess over where he might end up. The Jacksonville Jaguars — who hired his former Bengals offensive coordinator, Jay Gruden, to serve in that role in January — have interest in signing Dalton if the price is right. Dalton would likely be viewed as a backup plan should things not go smoothly with Gardner Minshew, a 2019 sixth-round pick who emerged as the starter last season.”
No shocker here given the Gruden connection, as the former Bengals offensive coordinator helped bring Dalton into the league and helped him produce some of his best seasons.
We’ve previously noted the Jaguars make sense as the last bonafide Dalton trade destination. But the contract is always the big hurdle now, as a cap hit north of $17 million won’t be appealing to teams potentially using him as a backup.
If the Bengals attempt to use Dalton as a backup to help along Joe Burrow, a contract restructure might be on the table. But for now, teams like the Jaguars are likely content to see if Cincinnati up and cuts its longtime starter.
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