The Cincinnati Bengals are presumed to be taking Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, making Andy Dalton expendable. Despite the possibility of trading him, head coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals are exploring all options with Dalton.
“Every option is on the table out there,” Taylor said to Elise Jesse of WLWT. “We’re trying to put ourselves in the best position to make sure we’re prepared for next season and we have the best assets we can have. We think the world of Andy, obviously. It’s just kind of a weekly process for us.”
Heading into the 2020 season, Dalton is entering the final year of his contract. The veteran signal-caller is set to carry a $17.7 million cap hit next season unless he's released or traded. In the event that he's released or traded, the Bengals would create $17.7 million in cap savings.
Article Continues BelowWhile it would make sense to part ways with Dalton, Cincinnati has an ample amount of cap space to keep him on the roster. Of course, with Burrow likely leading the charge on offense in 2020, that would make Dalton a backup in 2020.
Given that free agency has died down, there aren't many teams remaining that are looking for a starting quarterback. That could cause Dalton's trade market to be a bit underwhelming as the offseason continues to advance.
The 2020 NFL Draft is less than three weeks away, giving the Bengals some time to decide on what they want to do with Dalton. Even though it would be ideal to trade him, Cincinnati may be stuck keeping him on the roster for the time being.