It would appear that the Andy Dalton era in Cincinnati is over.
While the 0-8 Bengals are on the bye in Week 9, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network says that they are planning to start Ryan Finley over Dalton when they host the division-rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.
Dalton is actually celebrating (that word is used loosely) his 32nd birthday Tuesday. He's been the Bengals starting quarterback since they selected him in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of TCU. While Dalton led the Bengals to playoff appearances in each of his first five years, he's never quarterbacked the team to a postseason victory. Since the start of the 2016 season, the Bengals are just 18-32-1 in games Dalton has started.
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First-year head coach Zac Taylor will turn to Finley, who the Bengals drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In five college seasons split between Boise State and North Carolina State, Finley threw 63 touchdowns to 30 interceptions, while racking up over 11,000 career passing yards.
While there may be some hope that the Bengals found a diamond in the rough with Finley, playing a rookie quarterback may actually increase their chances at finishing with the worst record in the NFL. To edge out the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons, among others, and secure the No. 1 overall pick, the Bengals may need to go 0-16.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be the first quarterback taken in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ohio State defensive end Chase Young will likely be the top overall graded player in next April's NFL Draft.
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