Update:
The Bengals have announced their agreement with QB Andy Dalton.
“This is unbelievable. I’m just very thankful for the Bengals organization and for my teammates to help me here where I am,” Dalton said. “I’m excited about the future and that I’ll be here for a long time.
“It means a lot,” Dalton said of the support he’s received from the team. “To hear it is one thing. Now it’s officially done. I know I’m going to be here for a long time.”
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ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan are reports that the Bengals have reached an agreement with QB Andy Dalton on a six-year extension worth $115 million.
- Schefter adds that Dalton’s deal has yet to be filed with the NFL, but it is expected to be submitted later in the day.
- Ian Rapoport notes that Dalton’s new contract pays him more than 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick.
- Ian Rapoport adds that “early word” is that Dalton will receive more fully guaranteed that the $12.3 million included in Kaepernick’s contract.
- Dalton will now be under team control through the 2020 season, according to Jason La Canfora.
The two sides must have made some serious progress in recent days as the most recent report we heard regarding the situation suggested that they were still pretty far a part from an agreement.
It will be interesting to see how Dalton’s new contract breaks down and how much guaranteed money he was able to secure. The Bengals mentioned that they would consider using the same structure as the deal signed by 49ers and Kaepernick, so there could be some similarities in these two contracts.
Either way, Dalton will make an average salary of just over $19 million in his extension years, which is enough to place him in the top-10 highest paid quarterbacks. However, the deal is like to be a pay-as-you-go contract, so some of these figures may never be received.
Dalton, 26, was entering the final year of his rookie contract and would have made just $986,027 for the 2014 season. He’s led Cincinnati to the playoffs in each of his first three years in the league, but has yet to win a single postseason game.
Last year, Dalton completed 61.9 percent of his passes for a career-high 4,296 yards 33 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
We had Dalton listed as the No. 21 player in our Top 25 – 2015 Free Agents list.
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