Bolster roster with two more star-caliber players.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have secured veteran quarterback Andy Dalton for two more seasons, signing him to a two-year contract on Tuesday. Dalton will continue to serve as a seasoned backup behind starter Bryce Young as the team heads into the 2025 season.
Dalton, 37, was set to become an unrestricted free agent next month. He joined the Panthers in 2023 and spent most of his tenure as Young’s backup. However, he stepped into the starting role in Week 3 last season when head coach Dave Canales benched Young after an 0-2 start, citing Dalton as the team’s best chance to win at the time.
In his first start of the season, Dalton threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, leading Carolina to a 36-22 victory over the Raiders. However, he lost his next four starts before a sprained thumb—sustained in a car accident—sidelined him.
Young reclaimed the starting role and found his rhythm, going 4-6 down the stretch. His standout moment came in Week 18, when he racked up 251 yards and a career-high five total touchdowns in a 44-38 overtime win against the Falcons, solidifying his status as the team’s quarterback moving forward.
Over his 14-year career, Dalton has thrown for 39,500 yards with 253 touchdowns and 150 interceptions. A second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011, he has played for five teams and earned three Pro Bowl selections.
How the Panthers Could Address Roster Needs Through Free Agency and the Draft
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan wrapped up the 2024 season with a message of progress and momentum.
Despite a 5-12 record, Morgan highlighted the team’s strong finish, winning two of their last three games and pushing both the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles to the brink in close losses.
He pointed to quarterback Bryce Young’s growth in his second season as a positive sign for the franchise’s future. Additionally, first-year head coach Dave Canales met expectations in developing Young, avoiding the fate of becoming the third Panthers coach in three years to be fired by owner David Tepper.
“Morgan stated, “I do think we’re making a lot of progress.” “The trend is going pretty well right now. Guys are beginning to understand what it’s like to succeed as the culture shifts”
However, Morgan also acknowledged the team’s pressing needs—particularly on defense. The Panthers ranked last in the NFL in total defense (404.5 YPG), points allowed (31.4 PPG), and run defense (179.7 YPG).
“Our focus will be on bringing in really good football players, regardless of the side of the ball,” Morgan said. “But I’m not blind to the fact that our defense has to improve. It wasn’t up to standard, and we have to address that.”
Fixing the defense will be the team’s top priority in free agency and the draft. Carolina holds the eighth overall pick, which is expected to be used on a defensive player, and most of the team’s nine total draft picks will likely be dedicated to that side of the ball.
With an estimated $30 million in salary cap space, according to Roster Management System, the Panthers are positioned to make key additions to strengthen their roster.
