Andy Dalton Rumors: Jaguars, Patriots Interested in QB After Bengals Release

The Jacksonville Jaguars are interested in potentially signing free-agent quarterback Andy Dalton, according to NFL Network's Steve Wyche.

The Cincinnati Enquirer's Tyler Dragon reported the New England Patriots are looking at the three-time Pro Bowler as well.

The Cincinnati Bengals officially released Dalton on Thursday, ending a nine-year run with the franchise. He threw for 3,494 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 13 games in 2019.

Cam Newton remains unsigned, while Jameis Winston only finalized a deal with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday. Both underscore the scarcity of realistic options for Dalton now that he's on the open market.

The Jaguars and Patriots are among the few teams where the 32-year-old would fit.

Jacksonville already had a veteran to either back up Gardner Minshew II or beat him out for the starting job.

The team traded Nick Foles to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round draft pick. ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler reported in March that Jacksonville was ready to commit to Minshew as the starter, thus making Foles expendable.

Minshew exceeded expectations as a rookie, throwing for 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. The former Washington State star played well but wasn't so good that he's clearly the franchise quarterback.

Dalton would be a good contingency plan were Minshew's development to go backward in 2020, and he spent three seasons with offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.

The Patriots, meanwhile, signed Brian Hoyer but have done little else after Tom Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Bill Belichick told reporters after the 2020 NFL draft the team didn't go out of its way to avoid selecting a quarterback but that it's how the dominoes fell.

Perhaps New England is content to give Jarrett Stidham a full season before addressing the situation again in 2021. Even if that's the case, Dalton would be an obvious upgrade over Hoyer.