FRISCO, Texas — Quarterback Andy Dalton signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys worth up to $7 million that includes $3 million guaranteed per ESPN.
The former Bengals QB will be a solid veteran backup behind Dak Prescott and the Cowboys attained him at a bargain price.
Dalton was drafted by the Bengals in the second round (pick 35) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of TCU and was the team’s primary starter since his selection. The Bengals released the 32-year-old earlier in the week and the Cowboys made the move to add to the quarterback room with Dalton, following the team’s 7th round selection in this year’s draft, Ben DiNucci.
Dalton, a Katy native, now returns to Texas. Throughout his nine-year tenure in Cincinnati, Dalton completed 2,757 of 4,449 passing attempts for 31,594 passing yards and 204 touchdowns.
Head coach Mike McCarthy has mentioned throughout the draft process that he would like to have more options behind the starter at quarterback, much like the Green Bay Packers teams did in the 1990’s with Brett Favre. McCarthy worked as the QB coach in Green Bay in 1999 when Favre threw for 4,091 yards. He is known for his development of quarterbacks and now will have a productive veteran in Dalton, a young project with DiNicci, and carryover Cooper Rush.
