The Cincinnati Bengals selected quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and the team plans on him being the future. With the former LSU signal caller now in Cincinnati the Bengals no longer needed Andy Dalton. And on Thursday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals released Dalton.
Andy Dalton Released by Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2011 draft and he’s been their primary starter at quarterback ever since.
The Numbers
Last season Dalton threw for 3,494 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He was scheduled to make $17.7 million in 2020, the final season of his six-year, $96 million contract. It really became all about the numbers for Cincinnati. With their free agency signings and future seemingly set with Burrow at quarterback, the Bengals simply didn’t have salary cap space to absorb Dalton’s $17.7 million hit in 2020 and also sign their incoming rookies. By releasing Dalton, the Bengals get rid of the entire $17.7 million he was due and don’t absorb any dead cap money.
Writing Was on the Wall
In Week 10 of the 2019 season Dalton was benched in favor of Ryan Finley in the Bengals matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. While the blame for the 0-8 record at that time wasn’t solely on Dalton, it was obvious the team wanted to see what they had in Finley. But the Bengals went 0-3 after Dalton was benched and he was reinserted as the starter for the remainder of the season. The Bengals ultimately went 2-14 in 2019 which was how they secured the number one overall pick in this year’s draft.
Last Word
In his nine years with the Bengals, Dalton went 70-61-2 as a starter under center, was named to the Pro Bowl three times and led the Bengals to postseason berths from 2011-2015 but failed to secure even a single postseason win. His 204 touchdown passes are a franchise record and he trails only Ken Anderson in passing yards. Anderson threw for 32,838 yards while with the organization while Dalton threw for 31,594 yards.
Reportedly the Bengals did try to trade Dalton prior to his release, but apparently never found a deal that worked.
Main Photo
