Andy Dalton is not settling for a back-up quarterback job and is convinced he's more than capable of being the starter for the Carolina Panthers and set to compete with Bryce Young. And he's said when he no longer believes he will retire.
The Panthers made a huge commitment to Young, trading two first round draft picks, a second and a third along with star wide receiver DJ Moore to acquire the number one draft pick in order to select him.
But before drafting Young, they had also brought in veteran quarterback Dalton, giving the long-time starter a two-year, $11 million (£8.66m) contract.
Dalton proved last year that he's a more than capable starter in the league, having a solid season with the New Orleans Saints where he threw 19 touchdowns and completed 67 per cent of his passes in 14 games.
After beginning the off-season as starter, Young impressed quickly and forced a change within a few days, claiming the right to take all the reps as the first-choice quarterback. The Panthers then stated that their plan was to always give Young the starting reps, with a view to him being the man on the opening week of the season.
But despite that, Dalton knows he's good enough to be a starter in the league. He has admitted that when he does not see himself as one of the best 32 quarterbacks in the league, then he'll stop playing.
He told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "I view myself as a starter in this league. I don’t think there are 32 guys better than me. "But this is the situation I am in, and I understand that. As soon as I don’t think I’m one of the best 32, or a little lower, I’ll be watching football on TV."
He added that he's happy to be with the Panthers despite not being the starting quarterback, where he looks to prolong his career as he enters his mid-30's. He said: "I am in a really, really good situation here; Frank Reich played til he was 38. He was a career backup.
"He understands the continuity you want in a quarterback room. Josh McCown played until he was 40. Josh was my friend for the last 10 years, and now he’s my coach."
A unique prospect, Young stands at 5ft 10in - being one of the shortest and slightest quarterbacks in NFL history. This profile of quarterback are seen as more prone to injury, and have struggled in recent years with Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield being criticised for their lack of height and ability to see over the middle of the field.
But Young proved at the collegiate level that his lack of height is no issue, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2021 and performing at an incredibly high level as a passer against tough opposition. Should Young struggle, the Panthers will have a more than reliable option to go to at any point, keeping the number one draft pick on his heels.
