The uncertain status of Joe Mixon clouds the Bengals’ future at the running back position, but the top of the depth chart is not the only place where questions remain. Regardless of what happens with Mixon, a depth addition would not come as a surprise. 
A pay cut has been floated as a potential solution for Mixon to remain in place as the focal point of Cincinnati’s backfield, but few developments on that front have emerged recently. Team and player are hoping to have the situation resolved soon, with the Bengals having a number of other priorities to deal with in the summer, including extensions for the likes of Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Logan Wilson.
The loss of Mixon in particular would create a hole at the RB spot, however, and require a late addition aimed at filling it. As things stand, the free agent departure of Samaje Perine has led to questions about which back would occupy his pass-catching role. The incumbent options – veteran Trayveon Williams, 2021 sixth-rounder Chris Evans and fifth-round rookie Chase Brown – offer little-to-no experience in that regard at the NFL level.
As a result, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic predicts that another running back will be added during the summer to provide a known commodity on third downs (subscription required). Williams and Evans have combined to make just 26 receptions in their careers, while the majority of Brown’s production at Illinois came on the ground rather than through the air. Giving Mixon (if retained) a three-down role for 2023 is unlikely, Dehner notes, meaning the Bengals could be players on the open market.
Deep into what has been an underwhelming offseason at the running back spot, several options are available as short-term options while the team evaluates its younger players at the position. Evans, for instance, is in danger of losing his roster spot if training camp does not produce an impressive performance, per Dehner. High-profile names like Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott are still unsigned, but other veterans such as Kareem Hunt and J.D. McKissic would be better-suited if a strictly pass-catching role is the one being targeted.
The Bengals currently have just under $15MM in cap space, but that figure will be subject to change in the coming weeks, especially if Mixon is released (a move which would yield over $10MM in cap savings). Plenty will depend on the Pro Bowler’s fate, of course, but the team will be one to watch on the summer RB market as they look to replace Perine’s notable backup production.
He should have been released already because he’s a punk, not to mention he’s over the hill.
1. He’s 27. They still have 2 more years before he hits the 30 wall.
2. Hardly over the hill. Missed 3 games. If he played 16 or 17 he’s got another 1,000 yard season
3. Being a punk doesn’t really matter to nfl teams. They care about winning and getting value out of contracts.
4. He’s making what 9-10 mill this year? Only reason they’re discussing a pay cut is cause they need money for Higgins and Burrow, plus top of the the current market is like 6 mill.
All valid points but his yards per carry have declined every year. Last year was below 4 yards a carry …. Very pedestrian. I’ve never liked Mixon from day 1 and his nothing to do with him slugging his girl in college. He plays around too much behind the line of scrimmage. Get the ball and run, like Perine
As much as I would like to be optimistic about mixons ability to record 1,000 rushing yards if he played 3 more games. This is just statistically not likely.
In the 14 games he played he averaged 58.1 yards per game. With him finishing the season with 814, he would need to play 4 more games. But there was only 3 that he didn’t play. Not to mention the 3.9 yards per carry.
Then there is the fact that all these numbers are actually bloated do to 18.79% of his yards coming from 1 game. If you subtract that one game and use those numbers it’s far worse for mixon.
Without his best game which seems to have been an outlier in 13 games mixon averaged:
3.51 yards per carry
50.84 yards per game
On 661 yards in 188 Carries.
Even the majority of his touchdowns came in that one game
4 of his 7 rushing and 1 of his 2 receiving. Mixon was never going to rush for 1,000 yards last season even if he played all 17 games. And that’s even after having a historic game last year.
On the field, Mixon is an easy guy to root for. Brings ALL the energy, very RA RA, very team first, and his teammates love him. Off the field..he got himself into some trouble, tho it’s still pretty unclear what exactly happened. He also gets blamed for his sister shooting a neighbor teen (at Joes house) for playing nerf guns in his side yard. Very bad situation (I live a couple blocks away, people are pissed) but he wasn’t involved. He’s also very overpaid. I expect the bengals to lean hard on him this season and for him to be gone next season. I don’t believe they’ll go sign a vet. They love the rookie they drafted and they’ve been grooming Williams to take over for Perine.
if I’m them I’d want Kareem Hunt of the names mentioned
both Hunt and Cook have a chance to steal lead back role, but Hunt will be much cheaper
Zeke is washed unless they want him for the pass protection
Hunt still has tread on the tires. I know he wasn’t great last year but I suspect that was because he was reading the tea-leaves and realized his time in Cleveland was coming to an end. As a running back why go out there and give 100% when the team is moving on from you. It’s the same as when they franchise tag a RB, the RB is only going to give the team what they need to give, they do not have to give all they got.
I’d say the reason you give 100% is so that when you DO get released, teams won’t have a reason to ask if you’re declining or if you refused to give 100%, either of which will affect your next contract.
It depends what they can get Elliot for. I’d like 2 or 3 mill, he’d made a nice parrying with Brown who starts. Rookies have shown they can run really well but struggle in pass pro which Elliot is probably still the best in the league at, just not when at C.
Cook is obviously the most logical choice. That’s just going to happen. Hunt imo, is a great, safe option. Should have signed Hunt months ago.