Andy Dalton Signs With Dallas Cowboys as Patriots Pass on Another QB Option

Widespread speculation concluded that Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston, and Cam Newton might be hard-pressed to find a starting spot in the NFL, as the free agent market ran dry entering May.

Winston accepted a Harvard education, joining the Saints this past week to learn under Drew Brees and Sean Payton. Dalton hit the market officially following that deal, and dots immediately connected him to the New England Patriots' opening, the only conceivable spot where he might be able to take over from Week 1.

Newton remains available, but Dalton has made his call -- the former TCU QB is going to be Dak Prescott insurance in Dallas.

Rather than draw loud and resounding conclusions about what this means for Dallas' mobile franchise-tagged QB, we'll just endorse the Dalton fit. For all the slander he's received due to his winless playoff record, he's a three-time Pro Bowler and launched a career high 33 TD passes in 2013. If Prescott is forced to miss any length of time, it's likely that no team in the game has a better backup in their arsenal.

Jerry Jones has struck often over the past few weeks, but it's not clear if he's struck this bizarrely at any point. That being said, would you rather have Andy Dalton or Jalen Hurts when the medical cart is rolled out?

And speaking of thin QB rooms, it's either Newton or Jarrett Stidham in New England. It's official.

Or Trevor Lawrence in 2021. That could work, too.