NFL News: Andy Dalton Reportedly Signs New Panthers Contract as Bryce Young's Backup

The Carolina Panthers are reportedly maintaining some continuity in their quarterback room for the 2025 season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday the NFC South team agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with veteran Andy Dalton. The contract features $6 million guaranteed and can reach a max value of $10 million.

Schefter highlighted the "close relationship" between Dalton and starter Bryce Young, which surely played a role in the team's decision to bring the veteran back.

While Dalton is best known for his time on the Cincinnati Bengals when he was a three-time Pro Bowler who helped lead the team to five playoff appearances, he started five games for the Panthers last season when Young was benched.

In all, he completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024.

Young was put back into the starting lineup after Dalton suffered a thumb injury in a car accident and ended up playing much better down the stretch of the season. It was a critical stretch for the 2023 NFL draft's No. 1 overall pick considering his future as a starter in the league seemed precarious after he was benched.

Young accounted for 10 total touchdowns and zero interceptions across Carolina's final three games of the campaign, two of which were wins over NFC foes in the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons.

Head coach Dave Canales told reporters the strong finish secured Young's spot as the starting quarterback for the 2025 season, which will be an important one as the Alabama product looks to lead the Panthers to their first winning record since the 2017 campaign.

He will have a familiar face in the quarterback room helping him along the way now that Carolina decided to bring back Dalton.