Andy Dalton says he’s better than some other starting QBs

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Andy Dalton believes he's better than some of NFL's other starting QBs

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 6/30/23

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton isn’t the only player who thinks that he’s better than some of the current starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

Andy Dalton, who signed with the Panthers during free agency, expressed a nearly identical sentiment as Newton in a recent interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, in which he stated he believes he’s still a starting-caliber quarterback.

"I view myself as a starter in this league,” Dalton said. “I don't think there are 32 guys better than me. This is the situation I am in, and I understand that. As soon as I don't think I'm one of the best 32, or a little lower, I'll be watching football on TV."

Andy Dalton & Cam Newton

“I don’t think there are 32 guys better than me” https://t.co/CzL5nIfmo4 pic.twitter.com/VKuYp8AXLB
— (@Goaty_Szn) June 30, 2023

In Dalton’s mind, he’s not in Carolina to mentor No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. However, it’s tough to ignore the similarities between Dalton’s situation and the one head coach Frank Reich found himself in during the 1995 season.

Then an eight-year veteran signal-caller, Reich signed with the Panthers, who had just drafted Kerry Collins with the fifth overall pick. Part of his job was to help groom the young QB, who took Reich’s starting job four games into the season.

It might not even take Young that long to win the starting job, as he’s already listed as the No. 1 QB on Carolina’s depth chart — a likely indication that Reich plans to roll with the 21-year-old rookie under center in Week 1.

"It's just the next step," Reich said, via ESPN. "We had a couple of weeks to watch Andy. Andy has continued to perform at a very high level. We're just trying to get our team ready. Everything is about what's best for our team, and so this was just the next step."

Dalton is on his fifth team in the last five years.

While many around the league view the 35-year-old as a backup at this point in his career, he’s proven that he has staying power in the NFL. He’s started 10 or more games in 10 of his 12 seasons.

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