Burrow is an established postseason force, but he hasn’t ever seriously factored into the MVP or All-Pro conversation. And after three consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs (including two in which Burrow suffered injuries), it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll deliver a return on his current $275 million deal.
Cincinnati’s backup plan is confusing. The Bengals have wisely put veteran pocket passers behind Burrow, himself a pocket passer, for the sake of scheme continuity, but the 41-year-old Flacco no longer provides much upside. He was a sack and turnover machine at times last season. And Cincinnati’s third quarterback, 40-year-old Josh Johnson, puts the “journey” in journeyman. Flacco’s $6 million salary is a huge overpay relative to his performance on the field, and the $1.5 million for Johnson’s veteran minimum deal could’ve been spent on a younger, more interesting developmental option that the Bengals could keep behind Burrow long term.