Ryan Finley contract breakdown with Bengals

Thanks to the addition of Ryan Finley, the Bengals’ backup quarterback situation will be an interesting storyline heading into training camp.

Finley was someone Cincinnati had to trade up for the in the 2019 NFL Draft, as they sent the 110th, 183rd and 198th picks to the 49ers for the 104th pick, which is where the NC State quarterback was selected.

Even for a Day 3 pick, that was a lot to give up just to move up six spots, which was a sign the Bengals really liked what they saw in Finley, who will now challenge Jeff Driskel for the backup spot behind Andy Dalton.

Giving up those picks alone would suggest Finley is likely to make the 53-man roster, even if it’s as the No. 3 quarterback behind Dalton and Driskel. Then you’ve got the fact that cutting Finley would carry a $789,656 dead cap charge, and we all know how much Mike Brown hates paying players and coaches who aren’t actually playing/coaching in Cincinnati.

Here is a look at Finley’s contract via Over The Cap:

Finley would have to be pretty bad in training camp and the preseason to not make the 53-man roster, which isn’t out of the question after his performance in OTAs.

Hopefully, Finley cleans things up and not only plays well in the preseason but also makes it easier to cut Driskel and keep just two quarterbacks. It would likely be more beneficial for the Bengals to keep an extra offensive lineman or linebacker than roll with three quarterbacks.