Another QB is off the board.
According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Carolina Panthers are trading veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Dalton was mentioned as a trade possibility for the New York Jets to fill their QB2 void by ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
Dalton Is on the Move
The former TCU product became expendable when Carolina signed quarterback Kenny Pickett in free agency to be the new QB2 behind Bryce Young.
Dalton, 38, has been with the Panthers since 2023. When he originally joined the team, Frank Reich was the head coach. Reich is now the Jets’ offensive cooridator.
After this trade news broke on Wednesday, March 18, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reiterated that, “Dalton was a QB2 option for the Jets because of his past association with Frank Reich.”
Where Do the Jets Turn From Here?
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic went through the Jets’ alternative options now that Dalton is off the board:
Rosenblatt said, “Safe to assume Wilson, Flacco, and Garoppolo won’t be signing with the Jets.”
“They can also explore the trade market (Will Levis)?,” Rosenblatt floated an idea on social media.
Russell Wilson Joe Flacco Tyrod Taylor Carson Wentz Cooper Rush Jimmy Garoppolo Brandon Allen
Safe to assume Wilson, Flacco and Garoppolo won’t be signing with the Jets.
They also can explore the trade market (Will
Maybe Missing out on Dalton Is Good News for the Jets?
ESPN radio host Jake Asman joined me on “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital” on Wednesday, March 18. During our conversation, we explored the QB2 conversation with the Jets.
“Yeah, I would prefer that the Jets go with someone who has potential upside. People may laugh, but why not see if you can get Will Levis? See if he just needs a change of scenery like Malik Willis did. Same situation. Malik Willis blossomed with some real coaching a couple years into his career,” Asman explained.
“To me, I’d rather have someone with some semblance of an upside because what good is trading a day three pick to get Andy Dalton? Oh, he knows Frank Reich’s offense… he is 38 years old, who cares,” Asman stated.
“If Geno [Smith] gets hurt or is ineffective and they don’t have a Ty Simpson, let’s say, wouldn’t you rather the backup be someone who maybe could develop into something? Will Levis probably isn’t good or Spencer Rattler or whoever you want to throw out for this type of role I’m describing, but isn’t there a chance of maybe being something,” Asman said.
“Like I’d rather that than just ugh, here is Andy Dalton, who is 38, and he is the backup to 36-year-old Geno Smith. Like that really doesn’t do anything for me,” Asman told me on the podcast.
Jets Have QB1, They Still Need QB2
Smith was brought in to be the QB1 for the Jets. That name isn’t going to inspire much confidence among Jets fans, but he was the best of the worst options that were available.
Day by day, the QB2 options around the league are dwindling. Trades are seemingly happening every other day, and the few names available in free agency are flying off the board.
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