Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is confident the team’s front office is going to keep him around in 2019.

Words from head coach Marvin Lewis sure seem to back that idea up.

Here’s what Lewis told reporters Friday:

“A lot of franchises would love to have Andy. If you talk with any GM or head coach, they’re all trying to find Andy Dalton. Each and every one of them. You find out right away when you don’t have a guy that’s competent, that can deliver accurate throws and can handle the offense and handle the planning that goes into week to week to week. The quarterback is such a person that has to be able to handle the changes of the defensive schemes week to week and has to come in on Tuesday and have an idea about what is about to occur and be able to apply it and help the rest of his teammates bring it to life Wednesday and through the rest of the week and on Sunday. That’s the quarterback’s responsibility.”

Of course, Lewis’ ideas about Dalton might not matter much if he isn’t around in 2019. His ideal defensive coordinator imploded and got fired to the point he had to take the job over and appears well on his way to another disappointing finish, so who knows?

As we’ve noted, the Bengals save droves of cap if they move on from Dalton this offseason. That probably won’t happen, but Dalton, Lewis and everybody else knows the financial side of things is right there.

If Lewis is back, it’s clear Dalton will be as well. And he’s not wrong, by the way — more than half of the league or so is stuck in a miserable search for a quarterback and would love to have a player like Dalton. The Bengals are trying to get Dalton to push the team to be more like the few teams that would turn away from Dalton because they have a superior player under center.