Weak NFL Draft class of running backs should impact how Bengals handle Joe Mixon's contract
The future of Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is once again being put into question this offseason. Mixon agreed to a new two-year contract with Cincinnati last July. He's due to make $5.75 million in cash this season and count for $8.5 million in cap space. If he's on the roster on March 18, […]
The future of Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is once again being put into question this offseason.
Mixon agreed to a new two-year contract with Cincinnati last July. He's due to make $5.75 million in cash this season and count for $8.5 million in cap space. If he's on the roster on March 18, he's owed a $3 million roster bonus that's guaranteed.
This creates a deadline for the Bengals to decide on Mixon's future much quicker than they did last year, but they'll have to consider all the context as well. Part of that involves a potentially weak running back class in this year's NFL Draft.
Among the many things A to Z Sports' Destin Adams learned down at last week's Senior Bowl was the lack of optimism surrounding the upcoming crop of rookie backs set to be drafted in April:
"One high-up NFC executive shared with me that he didn't think there was a single RB worthy of being drafted in the top three rounds in this class. Another person had this telling quote: 'There's a few Robins in this class but not a single Batman.' While that could end up being the case, there were some RBs whose performances in Mobile caught the eye of some NFL teams.'" – A to Z Sports' Destin Adams
The Bengals luckily got ahead of this by drafting a running back in last year's stacked class. Chase Brown eventually proved to be a spark plug worth featuring in their offense towards the end of the 2023 season. The chances of making him the top back next year, however, aren't great. Cincinnati will need another back to share the load with him.
That could be Mixon, or it could be a free agent signing. It may have to be one of the two if the draft won't provide many good answers.
This year's free agent class of running backs appears to be strong with stars such as Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley leading the way. The Bengals aren't likely to swim in those waters as all three are projected to land deals worth $10 million per year or more, but their presence will create saturation for the rest of the market.
Change is likely to occur within the Bengals' running back room, but don't expect it to happen in the draft.
Bengals’ Joe Mixon is smiling to the bank after dominant season-ending game
Mixon ended the 2023 season with a bang, and gets a nice bonus on top of it.
