Andy Dalton

Career StatsC+

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	INT	RTG
Career		179	39,792	254	151	87.5
2025		4	293	1	1	89.1
2024		6	989	7	6	82.0

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Andy Dalton's Contract Value Index lands at C+, putting the deal in a defined slice of comparable signings. At $4M AAV across two years, this represents exactly what a franchise should pay for a 15-year veteran serving as a depth quarterback — enough to secure a proven commodity without overcommitting resources to a backup role. The performance grade sits at C+, which paired with the modest salary reflects realistic expectations: Dalton is insurance, not a solution, and the contract price acknowledges his standing as a 38-year-old longtime veteran rather than a reclamation project with upside. The Eagles acquired him via trade for only a 2027 seventh-round pick, a transaction that immediately underscores the value proposition — Philadelphia extracted a decade-and-a-half of NFL experience for the cost of a late conditional pick, a ruthlessly efficient deployment of capital. Media framing has been uniformly positive on role fit, consistently describing him as low-risk insurance against injury to the primary starter, which keeps the narrative grounded and removes downside surprise from the equation. With a two-year term and affordable AAV, the deal carries minimal dead-cap risk and preserves Philadelphia's flexibility to pivot at the position if circumstances change during his tenure.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Andy's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Andy Dalton produces at a tier that grades a C+ performance mark for Philadelphia. At 38 years old with 15 seasons under his belt, Dalton occupies the lane where institutional experience meets realistic production expectations—he is a dependable depth piece whose value rests on availability and competence rather than standout on-field output. His 2025 season shows minimal counting stats (1 tackle across 4 games), a reflection of his backup role and the Eagles' decision to acquire him as low-cost insurance rather than a featured contributor. The cornerstone of his value in Philadelphia is durability and credibility in the quarterback room; the team surrendered only a 2027 seventh-round pick to land him, a transaction that underscores his standing as a no-downside depth option tied directly to Jalen Hurts' injury history. With the regular season nearly three months away and the Eagles methodically reinforcing their roster across linebacker, defensive end, and secondary depth, Dalton fits the profile of a veteran insurance option who keeps expectations properly calibrated—he is not expected to carry the team, but he is trusted to step in competently if called upon, and that realistic framing has earned universal approval across the media landscape.

How Andy Compares at the Position

Andy Dalton ranks 32nd of 106 graded quarterbacks by performance. That slots Andy between Justin Fields (B-) just ahead and Caleb Williams (C+) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

The media and fan reception surrounding Andy Dalton's arrival in Philadelphia lands at a C+ — broadly positive for what it is, without anyone mistaking this for a transformative acquisition. The dominant narrative frames the trade as exactly the kind of low-cost, high-upside depth move that earns universal approval: surrendering a 2027 seventh-round pick for a 15-year veteran with extensive starting experience is the definition of a no-downside transaction, and coverage has leaned hard into that framing. There is a clear disconnect, however, between the warmth of the public reception and Dalton's actual on-field production — his performance grade sits at a D+, a reminder that sentiment here is driven entirely by role fit and cost efficiency, not anything the 38-year-old is doing between the lines. The acquisition narrative is tightly bound to Jalen Hurts' injury history and rushing-heavy style, with analysts consistently framing Dalton as smart insurance rather than a genuine starter-level option, which keeps expectations properly calibrated and the reception clean. Philadelphia's recent offseason activity — adding depth at linebacker, wide receiver, and special teams — paints a picture of a front office methodically reinforcing its roster, and the Dalton move fits neatly into that housekeeping narrative. The C+ sentiment grade is essentially a ceiling defined by the role itself: backup quarterbacks rarely generate heat, but a savvy, low-cost veteran acquisition tied to a credible need is about as good as that conversation gets. The narrative is settled and stable — positive, grounded in realism, and unlikely to move much until the regular season arrives in 125 days.