NFL Player News

The Bengals may decide to keep Dalton, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Team and player both seem to prefer a trade, but it's difficult to find a partner in a market where free-agent quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Cam Newton are struggling to drum up interest. Ultimately, it would make sense for the Bengals to cut Dalton if they do in fact use the No. 1 overall pick on Joe Burrow, as the 32-year-old quarterback doesn't have any guarantees on his $17.7 million compensation for 2020. It would be an unprecedented sum to pay for a backup, though it's possible Dalton would consider a pay cut and then hit the open market next offseason. It seems like all options are still in play here.

Prescott and the Cowboys have resumed contract negotiations, ESPN.com's Ed Werder reports.

The Dallas front office shifted its focus to free agency after using the franchise tag on Prescott in mid-March. The team can now turn its attention back to the young quarterback, who reportedly wants a four-year contract. The Cowboys are hoping for a five-year deal, with July 15 representing the negotiation deadline before Prescott is forced to play under the tag in 2020.

New teammate Marcus Mariota said Tuesday that Carr will remain the Raiders' starting quarterback, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Mariota became the NFL's highest-paid backup quarterback after inking a two-year, $17.6 million contract with $7.5 million guaranteed in free agency, a deal that sparked rumors about a potential job battle. It's worth noting that Carr has a much larger contract, one that would allow the Raiders to clear out as much as $16.1 million in cap space if he's traded or released this offseason, per OverTheCap.com. The 28-year-old may find himself looking over his shoulder if he struggles early in the season, but it doesn't sound like this will be a competition for the Week 1 starting job.

Mariota said Tuesday that he's ready to serve as Derek Carr's backup with the Raiders, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports. "First and foremost, this is Derek's team, and I understand that," Mariota said.

Mariota was awarded a two-year, $17.6 million contract with $7.5 million guaranteed last week, sparking rumors of a job battle between Carr and Mariota. The former Titan was quick to shoot down those rumors, but there's no way to spin it as a positive for Carr when his team brings in the highest-paid backup in the league. Carr may still have security for the Week 1 starting job, but he'll be looking over his shoulder if he struggles early in the season.

Lock appears to have little competition for the starting job after the signing of journeyman Jeff Driskel as the presumptive QB2, Benjamin Allbright of KOA News Radio reports.

Lock was mostly solid, but showed flashes of real promise down the stretch during his 4-1 tenure as the Broncos' starting quarterback. That didn't prevent some from calling for Denver to bring in a veteran to push Lock in 2020. That hasn't happened, however, and while Driskel has the athleticism to complement Lock's style, his 1-7 career record as a starter -- albeit on some bad teams -- is unlikely to trigger a camp battle. It is possible that the Broncos look for a developmental quarterback in the late rounds of the draft, but everything is trending toward a full-season audition for Lock in 2020.

Mariota's deal with the Raiders is two years for $17.6 million, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

The report notes that $7.5 million in the first year of the contract is fully guaranteed, with incentives also included in the QB's agreement with the team. For now, Mariota slots in behind incumbent starter Derek Carr, but it's plausible that down the road, Mariota -- the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft -- could make a run at the Raiders' top job, if Carr experiences any on-field struggles or suffers an injury.

The Panthers are trading Allen to Washington, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The Panthers reached an agreement with P.J. Walker earlier Monday, adding another body to a crowded QB room. Allen will now be reunited with Washington head coach Ron Rivera, who held the same role in Carolina from 2011 to mid-2019. With Dwayne Haskins unproven and Alex Smith (leg) uncertain to play football again, Allen is pretty much in the best situation he could've hoped for, though it doesn't mean he'll be handed a roster spot. The 24-year-old was one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL last season, accounting for 46 sacks, 16 interceptions and 13 fumbles in 13 games. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the Panthers will receive a fifth-round draft pick in the trade.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic believes that Jarrett Stidham "has the inside track" over Hoyer in terms of taking over the Patriots' vacated starting QB job.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Patriots are slated to pay Hoyer $1.05 million, with the veteran signal-caller in line for a guaranteed $2 million, factoring in what he'll get from the Colts, who recently released him. Hoyer thus represents a cap-friendly addition to New England's QB room, and one whose previous experience with the team is an obvious advantage. It's still possible that further depth is added at the position, but at the very least Hoyer currently represents an experienced alternate starting option should Stidham struggle on the field or suffer any injuries down the road.

Walker is signing with the Panthers, Dianna Russini of ESPN reports.

Walker was well on his way to MVP honors in the XFL, posting a 15:4 TD:INT while leading the Houston Roughnecks to a 5-0 record. He previously spent time with the Colts' practice squad from 2017 to 2019, never quite making it to the active roster for a regular-season game. The 25-year-old now joins a crowded QB room in Carolina, where Teddy Bridgewater, Cam Newton (foot), Will Grier (foot) and Kyle Allen all have spots on the roster. Newton likely will be cut or traded soon enough, leaving Walker to duke it out with Grier and Allen for one or two roster spots behind Bridgewater. The XFL star may have been swayed by the chance to reunite with Panthers coach Matt Rhule, who was the head coach at Temple for each of Walker's four collegiate seasons.

The Patriots' signing of Brian Hoyer suggests Stidham has a good chance to earn the starting quarterback job, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

It's a good sign for Stidham that the team signed Hoyer instead of a more accomplished veteran, though there's still time to add further competition to the quarterback room before Week 1. Ryan Hannable of WEEI reports that Hoyer's agent said the 34-year-old was told he'd have a chance to compete for the starting job, presumably squaring off against Stidham this summer. The 2019 fourth-round pick beat out Hoyer for the backup job last offseason, prompting the Patriots to release the veteran at the end of August.