Who Should I Start? Andy Dalton or Justin Fields

Tuesday, February 18, 4:15 PM

The Carolina Panthers and quarterback Andy Dalton agreed on a two-year, $8 million deal on Tuesday that includes $6 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $10 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran signal-caller will remain in Carolina, where he's developed a close relationship with starter Bryce Young. Dalton, 37, ended up making five starts for the Panthers in 2024 after the team benched Young following his slow start. In his six appearances in his second year in Carolina, the Red Rifle completed 66.3% of his 160 pass attempts for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions before suffering a thumb injury in a car accident that gave the Panthers a reason to go back to Young to end the year. Young looked the best he has in his young career to close out 2024, so Dalton will be entrenched as his backup entering the 2025 season.

Monday, February 3, 9:00 PM

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that some in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization are comfortable with Justin Fields as the starting quarterback in 2025. Fields has upside and more mobility than impending free-agent QB Russell Wilson. However, an NFC executive said that Fields didn't have much chemistry with wide receiver George Pickens, so that could play a part in who the Steelers choose to move forward with in 2025. Both Fields and Wilson will be free agents in March, and the Steelers are only expected to keep one of them moving forward. The 25-year-old Fields may be a better rushing asset than Wilson, but what he gains in mobility, he lacks in downfield passing and accuracy. The former first-rounder of the Chicago Bears in 2021 went 4-2 as a starter for Pittsburgh in 2024, throwing for 1,106 yards, five TDs and one pick while also rushing for 289 yards and five more scores.