Andy Dalton and the 2011 QB Draft Class

[*SHRacerX*]

(05-02-2020, 10:32 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Great point. CP made more money from the Bengals than Dalton even though the cap was much higher when Dalton played. Dalton entered year 1 of the new rookie pool.

It also is why teams can turn things around so quickly IF they hit on the draft. We just exchanged 11 million in cap space going to Burrow from Dalton which allows us to spend elsewhere. If Burrow is the hot we believe he will be, we have him at a bargain price also for his 1st 4 years in the NFL and option to add a 5th year,

Exactly.  And if you look at the teams that have contended for Super Bowls recently, a lot of them have rookie deals on their QBs.  Seattle did it with Wilson (and a 3rd round deal!).  KC with Mahommes.  Philly with Wentz (I know he wasn't the QB that won it, but the point remains that his contract was a rookie contract, allowing them to spend elsewhere).  The Rams with Goff.  SF with Kaepernick (God, that seems like ages ago).

If it wasn't a top tier veteran QB like Brady, Manning (both), Brees, or Rogers...it was generally a team with a QB on the rookie wage scale.  

I think it bodes very well for Cincy that Brady, Brees, Rogers, etc are clearly looking at the clubhouse.  Although Mahommes could be around for a LOOOONG time.  He's crazy good.  One has to wonder what his contract looks like after climbing to $24 million next season (from an average of less than $5 million per year the first four) and then as an UFA in 2021.  He could break the $40 million per year number.  And while he is worth it, that would knock essentially $35 million of payroll off other players from last year.  Sure, the cap will continue to climb, but there are others on that team that will want top dollar as well.