Kevin O'Connell Andy Dalton
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Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan is open to trading quarterback Andy Dalton. Could he be a target for Kevin O'Connell and the Minnesota Vikings?
The Minnesota Vikings are trying to navigate a tricky quarterback situation this offseason. They want to add competition for J.J. McCarthy but not automatically send the 23-year-old to the bench. An intriguing option, other than Anthony Richardson, to possibly satisfy both those needs appeared to enter the trade market this week — Andy Dalton.
Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday the team is open to working with Dalton on a trade if the veteran signal-caller wants one.
“There’s a potential that somebody may want him,” Morgan said, via ProFootballTalk’s Josh Alper. “Andy’s a really good player, and he’s a great guy, great culture fit for us. I haven’t talked to any teams about a trade, but I think if the possibility did come up then I would talk to Andy, give him that option and let him explore a trade.
“I do think we want to get a little younger and a little more athletic at that backup quarterback spot.”
Morgan’s Dalton comments came just a day after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Panthers have received calls on the quarterback.
Receiving calls yet not talking to teams about a trade — as Morgan indicated — might be a sign the Panthers don’t want to trade Dalton.
But Morgan pretty clearly stated to McAfee that a Dalton trade is on the table. The question is whether the Vikings could or should be interested.
Would Andy Dalton Fit With Vikings?
Whether the Vikings pursue Dalton will greatly depend on their goals for the quarterback room in 2026 and beyond.
Dalton has a lot of experience and could serve as a mentor to McCarthy. He also likely would keep the Vikings competitive next season if he needed to start.
Over the past three seasons with the Panthers, Dalton has completed 64.7% of his passes and averaged 6.4 yards per attempt. He has also thrown 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Dalton started five games for the Panthers in 2024 when the team benched Bryce Young. Although Dalton led Carolina to a 1-4 record during that stretch, the benching served a purpose for Young, as he significantly improved afterwards.
Dalton could provide similar support to the McCarthy and the Vikings next season.
Why the Vikings Shouldn’t Pursue Dalton
The reason Minnesota might pass on the opportunity to add Dalton is simple — he wouldn’t move the needle that much.
A lot of pundits might not consider Dalton serious competition for McCarthy. Dalton will turn 39 years old during the 2026 season. He hasn’t posted a winning record as an NFL starter since 2015.
Dalton hasn’t exactly been starting for great teams. But since the start of the 2019 season, he is 16-33 as a starter.
To really push McCarthy, the Vikings have to add a signal-caller with more upside.
If Minnesota wants an experienced veteran who wouldn’t have to start but could, Joe Flacco might be a better option anyway. Flacco is older but wouldn’t cost anything in a trade because he’s a free agent.
McCarthy led the Vikings to a 6-4 record in his first year as a starter. But he completed only 57.6% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
That performance now has some doubting whether McCarthy will be a franchise quarterback. If the Vikings have doubts about that, they might prefer to add a signal-caller who has a chance to be a long-term starter instead of McCarthy.
Dalton obviously doesn’t have that chance.