CHARLOTTE — The Panthers made the big move to get to the No. 1 overall pick in the draft Friday, and apparently found him another mentor on Tuesday.
According to multiple reports, the Panthers are nearing a two-year deal with veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. The deal can't become official until the start of the league year on Wednesday afternoon.
The 35-year-old Dalton was with the Saints last season (starting 14 games), and has had stints with the Bears and Cowboys since playing his first nine seasons with the Bengals.
He's been to three Pro Bowls (the last in 2016), and has 38,150 career passing yards, with 244 touchdowns and 144 interceptions, with a career passer rating of 87.6.
He offers a capable starting-quality player who can plug in if the first pick isn't ready to roll early in the season.
Andy Dalton is entering his 13th season after playing with the Bengals (2011-19), Cowboys (2020), Bears (2021) and Saints (2022). He has 38,150 career passing yards, ranking sixth among currently active players.
New Orleans Saints' Andy Dalton in action during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs off the field after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. The Saints won 20-10. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) in action during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton watches during the second half an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton throws during the first half an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton passes during the first half an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
New Orleans Saints' Andy Dalton in action before an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs onto the field before the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New Orleans Saints' Andy Dalton in action before an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton (14)looks to pass the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton (14) on the field during pregame warmups prior to an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton rolls out to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears QB Andy Dalton during an interview after an NFL game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 in Detroit. (Zachary Silver via AP)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws a pass prior to an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) in action during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws a pass under pressure from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2020, file photo, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs off the field after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati. The Chicago Bears agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with former Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton, agent Jeffrey Nalley said Tuesday, March 16, 2021. The three-time Pro Bowler could earn an additional $3 million in bonuses. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn, File)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) scrambles out of the pocket to throw a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27. 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton, right, tries to evade the New York Giants defense during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates tight end Tyler Kroft's (81) touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) greets fans after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
En foto del 15 de diciembre del 2019, el quarterback de los Bengals de Cincinnati Andy Dalton lanza el balón en el juego ante los Patriots de Nueva Inglaterra. El 30 de abril del 2020 Cincinnati deja libre a Dalton, que aún tenÃa un año en su contrato, y le deja el camino a Joe Burrow, la primera selección del draft se liderar al equipo. (AP Photo/Frank Victores, File)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah, right, and quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrate after a 15-yard touchdown by Uzomah during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton takes the field before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) walks off the field after losing their NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of a NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Tom Puskar)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton, right, greets Cincinnati Bengals' Andy Dalton, left, after during an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Jason E. Miczek)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Cincinnati Bengals' Andy Dalton (14) looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) signs autographs as he leaves the field after warm ups before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton passes in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton performs at the on-field set for Thursday Night Football after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs out during player introductions before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
