The QB position

[jowczarski]

This is simple:
Joe Flacco is 33, has had back surgery, and one can argue plays much older and has been an average to bad quarterback since 2013. He also will likely have his contract restructured after this year and if not traded away being owed $103 million (!) from 18-21.
Ben Roethlisberger is 36, you know his injury history and began floating the retirement talk last year. He is only under contract through 2019.

Dalton will turn 31 this season. This team currently believes he has "high level" play (think a return to 2015/16) in him from 2018-2020. Argue about it if you will, but owner down to head coach to OC to new QB coach all believe that. It's not an absurd thought. Most feel QBs can play at a high level to about 36-37.

Now - if this team goes 6-10 and Dalton doesn't recapture that form - I say all bets are off for 2019's draft.