The Cincinnati Bengals are still in relative limbo when it comes to their starting quarterback Andy Dalton. As the days near before the NFL draft and the surefire potential to draft LSU gunslinger Joe Burrow, the bottom-dwelling AFC North team is still undecided as to what to do with the Red Rifle.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport noted that “all options are still on the table,” including bringing him back in 2020 and having him serve as the backup to Burrow.
This comes as a slight shift from last month's plans, as he seemed destined to be traded or released and finding a new home where he could compete for a starting job.
Dealing him, however, hasn't been easy. Dalton is crunched up with other aging quarterbacks who have seen their performance dropped in past years, right with the Jameis Winstons and Cam Newtons (released on Tuesday) of the world.
Most NFL teams have already filled a void at quarterback. Some have elected to spin the wheel and give their young signal-callers a true shot in 2020.
Nevertheless, it seems Dalton will have an NFL job no matter what when the dust settles.
The Bengals mustered a 2-14 record in 2019, good for worst in the league. Dalton only played in 13 of those games, throwing a career-low 16 touchdowns and the most interceptions he's thrown in the past five seasons (14).
Dalton, who's been with the Bengals for nine years since being drafted with the 35th pick in 2011, put up his worst quarterback rating (78.3) in 2019—a full two points fewer than in his rookie season.