Andy Dalton and the 2011 QB Draft Class

[*jason*]

(05-02-2020, 11:27 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: 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.  

It'll be very interesting with Mahomes. This off-season the Chiefs couldn't even go out for a night on the town with their $70 in free cap space.