Would the Jaguars make a deal for QB Andy Dalton?

Will the Jacksonville Jaguars look to add another veteran to the roster if they can find a trade partner for quarterback Nick Foles?

A lot would have to happen over the course of the next few weeks for the Jacksonville Jaguars to acquire current Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. While it’s a longshot to see Dalton reunited with his former offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, it’s not something that I would close the door on. It’s also something that I’m not totally against happening, either,

Bringing in Dalton would signal the end of the Nick Foles era here in Jacksonville. We know the Jaguars are on the hook for $22 million this coming season in salary due to the former Philadelphia Eagles star. The team is also cash strapped and if they try to release him, it would cost the team nearly $34 million and dead cap space.

That represents a bigger cluster than the one the team faced and having to pay Blake Bortles more than $15.5 million to walk away last season.

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Dalton, who was Cincinnati’s second-round draft pick and 2011, the same draft class that produced the ill-advised selection Blaine Gabbert, had his best seasons in a Bengals uniform with Gruden on staff. Should the Jaguars find a trade partner for Foles, the team will still need a veteran to back up the still sort-of-green Gardner Minshew.

Regardless of the six wins, he brought to the organization while starting this past season, the former sixth-round draft pick had his ups and downs as every rookie does.

There’s no guarantee he will take the next step in his education as an NFL quarterback.

"“Gruden oversaw Dalton’s entry to the NFL and helped him to some successful early campaigns, including a 33-touchdown season,” Chris Roling of Bengals Wire wrote.“But it might not be something a win-now team wants to hang its hat on, especially if a capable veteran like Dalton might become available.”"

Like former executive vice-president of football operations Tom Coughlin said, it was Minshew’s performance in Week 9 against the Houston Texans that was one of the reasons why he was benched after the bye week in favor of Foles.

Regardless of who is under center this season, the Jaguars need more consistency from the position on a weekly basis. 21 touchdowns and six interceptions are great while throwing for over 3,200 yards, but if the offense is not moving the ball down the field then changes need to be made.

If anything else Dalton gives the team reliability should the starter falter. And there’s no guarantee that Minshew would win the battle for the starting job out of camp. Dalton is still a viable option.