I didn't say anything about the draft not happening, I said the season could verywell not happen, and if it doesn't he's not getting paid no matter what pick he's taken. So if the Bengals take him he can just sit back and wait to see how this all plays out, and if the season does get canceled all the leverage swings to him. He can choose to just not sign and try to force Cincy to trade his rights or else they end up getting absolutely nothing out of the #1 overall pick, which would be a massive blow. The whole missing a year thing won't be held against him in the draft next year because everyone else would have missed a year of play (if NFL is canceled so will CFB), so the only thing he loses out on is being the #1 pick because Lawrence is going 1 assuming he comes out, but Burrow still goes around top 5. He will probably get a little less money, but the cap and TV money will both be going up so those picks will probably be getting paid a bit more than they are this year, and for QBs the real money is in the 2nd contract anyway and you'll have a better chance at being successful by going a little later in the draft to a slightly better team.Ice wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:53 amThe Draft is happening. Too many if's and the spread between pick 1 and pick is around 6 million over 4 years not to mention the big difference in the 5th year option.bjd5211 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:30 amThis is a unique year though and with the possibility of there being no season because of Covid, he could absolutely elect to refuse to sign his contract and re-enter the draft next year. If the season did get canceled he wouldn't get paid anyway because you know NFL owners won't pay players when there are no games being played (especially rookies), the only money he loses is the small amount from being the #1 pick to "only" a top 5-10 puck because Lawrence and possibly Fields will go before him next year.
The one reality is these players at the top of the draft get a fully guaranteed contract. The way the CBA is structured these days it is fun to talk about rookie leverage but they don't have any and are paid well not to worry about it so much.
The #1 pick will get a signing bonus approaching 25 million this season.
Lawrence will be a lock 1.1 next season barring injury.
Ultimately I think the Bengals take him and that's where he plays, but there has been so much coming out on this story that there has to be a little truth to it and Burrow would prefer not to go to Cincy.