CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton has been working hard to develop Blythe Young and on Tuesday the Carolina Panthers confirmed their relationship will continue.
Carolina has re-signed 37-year-old Dalton to a two-year contract, the team announced. The terms have not been disclosed, but sources say ESPN’s Adam Schefter has the contract worth $8 million, $6 million guaranteed, with a maximum value of $10 million.
Dalton was scheduled to become an unlimited free agent next month. He revealed that after the season his preference was to return to Carolina, and that Young, the top pick in the 2023 draft, wanted to get Dalton back.
“Me and Andy are very close,” Young, the Panthers starting quarterback said later this past season. “I was able to talk to him through things from the time I first got here and he wasn’t part of my view of the situation I would do. I always leaned over him. And we were always having a conversation.
“You can’t sum up the time you spent here… and you can only give birth to someone who can bounce back things, and it’s X and O, or it’s philosophical or outside. I can ask if it’s something he’s always trying to help me out of football somewhere.”
Dalton signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Panthers in 2023 to help Young develop.
The veteran became a starter in the last third week after being benched due to Young’s fault for starting 0-2 after a 2-14 rookie season.
Dalton threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns in the first start. It’s a 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Despite losing the next four games, he remained a starter until he suffered a thumb injury to his hand in a multi-car accident the week before the team’s 8th week game with the Denver Broncos did.
He regained his job as a young man after losing to the Broncos, leading Carolina to back-to-back victories, steadily improving the rest of the season. Dalton finished the season with 989 yards of passes, seven touchdowns and six interceptions completing 66.3% of passes.
Cincinnati Bengal’s second pick in the 2011 draft, Dalton threw 39,500 yards with 253 touchdowns and 150 intercepts in 14 seasons. He was chosen for three Pro Bowls.
