5 quarterbacks Detroit Lions should target in free agency to backup Jared Goff

4. Andy Dalton

Dalton started 14 games for the New Orleans Saints last season, and he played solidly (66.7 percent completion rate, 18 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 95.2 passer rating). He’s of course got ample starting experience, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals, with some playoff starts on his resume too. He has never started less than six games in a season during his career, even when he’s been brought in to be a backup since his time in Cincinnati ended.

Dalton has become a bit of a journeyman in recent years, playing for the Dallas Cowboys (2020), Chicago Bears (2021) and the Saints the last three seasons. What he finds on the open market  this offseason could range from a bridge starter to being brought in as a veteran backup with no chance to compete to start during training camp.

Experienced, capable and (at least theoretically) willing to accept a role other than atop the depth chart, Dalton’s picture may as well be next to the dictionary definition of “ideal backup quarterback”. The current Lions’ offense has shades of the Bengals’ offense when Dalton was a younger quarterback too, and that offense raised him to a level beyond his raw talent.

In a certain light, there wouldn’t be much drop-off from Goff to Dalton if the circumstance dictated it for the Lions.