NFL

How much is Andy Dalton’s $115 million deal really worth?

At first glance, Andy Dalton’s contract appears fiscally irresponsible, a six-year, $115 million contract extension for a quarterback who has yet to win a playoff game.

Dalton isn’t considered an elite quarterback, even if he has guided the Bengals to a 30-18 mark during the regular season and three straight trips to the playoffs.

But, the odds Dalton sees all of that $115 million are slim at best, with so few long-term NFL deals offering much guaranteed money after the signing bonus. Pro Football Talk reports Dalton is guaranteed $25 million over the first two years of his contract and, like Colin Kaepernick’s extension with the 49ers, the Bengals can treat it as a year-to-year deal.

If Dalton leads the Bengals to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, he gets an annual $500,000 bonus for the length of his contract.