The Carolina Panthers could ultimately part ways with this quarterback during the NFL offseason.
The Carolina Panthers suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round of the playoffs this past Saturday, but to be quite frank, no one expected the Panthers to be there anyway.
So, in a way, this was actually major win for a Carolina squad that had been one of the NFL's laughing stocks for many years.
However, it also became abundantly clear throughout the season that while the Panthers have made progress, they also need to make some changes.
That was particularly evident at the quarterback position, where Bryce Young's inconsistency drove Carolina fans up a wall.
There is a whole lot of deliberation surrounding Young heading into the offseason, and the same applies to backup quarterback Andy Dalton, who could ultimately find himself playing for another team in 2026.
Over the Cap has listed Dalton as a cut candidate, one year after the Panthers signed the veteran to a two-year, $8 million contract.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton. Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.Carolina stands to save $4 million if it releases Dalton in the coming weeks or months, and that extra cash could certainly help the team make a move elsewhere.
The Panthers are actually slated to have a decent chunk of cap space going into free agency, and with Carolina showing a whole lot of positive signs in 2025, it could actually represent a rather intriguing destination for free agents.
Dalton landed with the Panthers in 2023, immediately serving as Young's backup during the youngster's rookie campaign.
Over the course of three seasons, Dalton made 13 appearances and seven starts for Carolina, throwing for 1,643 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 64.7 percent of his passes and posting an 84.5 passer rating.
Of course, Dalton began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011 and spent nine years with the Bengals, making three Pro Bowl appearances. He also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints before joining the Panthers.
It will also be interesting to see whether or not Carolina decides to draft a quarterback this spring due to the questions surrounding Young heading into 2026.