The quarterback carousel continues to spin, and this time it's Andy Dalton making headlines. The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired Dalton from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round draft pick. Dalton, who had a stint as the New Orleans Saints' starting quarterback back in 2022, now finds himself in a new city with fresh opportunities.
This trade might spark curiosity about what the Saints could potentially get for Derek Carr, but let’s not jump to conclusions. While Dalton and Carr share the dubious distinction of having the most starts without a playoff win during the Super Bowl era, the market for Carr remains quiet. At 38, Dalton is a few years older than Carr, who is 35, but as of now, no teams have shown interest in making a move for Carr.
For Dalton, this trade means a shift in his role. Instead of vying for the Panthers' backup position behind Bryce Young, he'll be positioned as a potential backup to Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. The Eagles already have a trade candidate in Tanner McKee, and if McKee is dealt before the 2026 NFL Draft, Dalton could seamlessly step into the backup role behind Hurts.
Across the league, quarterback spots are being filled rapidly. As teams finalize their rosters post-draft, Derek Carr might find himself in a holding pattern. It wouldn’t be surprising if he has to wait until the November trade deadline for a chance, possibly stepping in if a team faces an unexpected injury to their starter, similar to last year's situations with Daniel Jones and Joe Burrow.
In this dynamic NFL landscape, Dalton’s move to the Eagles is just another piece of the puzzle, and it will be intriguing to see how the quarterback scenarios unfold as the season approaches.