The Cincinnati Bengals are privileged. That’s not something you read very often, but it’s true in this moment. The Bengals are in a privileged position heading into this draft, selecting No. 1 overall with one of the more talented and accomplished quarterbacks in recent memory available in the draft, the Bengals select at the top of every round, a significant benefit this year given the medium being used to execute this draft and the attendant issues that may materialize because of it, and they are privileged because they have skill position talent on the roster presently to support a young QB before a single selection is made on the 23rd of April.
Perhaps the most dynamic member of that skill position group is running back Joe Mixon. Mixon, of course, was drafted in the 2017 NFL draft, a fabulous draft for the running back position. Not only were multiple backs taken within the top 10 picks of the draft, something most thought to be anachronism of a bygone era, but that draft populated the NFL with some of the most dynamic talent at the position in the league presently. The Bengals happily availed themselves of the player that some scouts considered the most talented player at the position in that draft. Mixon immediately flashed in camp that year, and by the end of his rookie season, appeared to entrench himself as the starter going forward. Mixon, of course, led the conference in rushing in his second season, and after a slow start to his third season (a product of underwhelming offensive line and schematic issues) finished the second half of the season on a tear, securing his second consecutive 1,100 yard season. He’s been everything they’ve wanted at the position.
The members of the 2017 draft class also happen to be extension eligible this offseason. Most of the national media attention has centered on the potential mega extensions for the great quarterbacks in that class (Mahomes and Watson), but the first domino for the running backs fell yesterday with Christian McCaffrey inking a monster deal with the Carolina Panthers. McCaffrey has developed into the centerpiece of the Panther’s offense, and is a true dual-threat runningback with the versatility to contribute in the passing game in rare ways. The question for the Bengals, and the other teams that landed top running back talent in 2017 is what to do with regard to the contract status of those players.
The Bengals have made it clear that they intend to pursue a contract extension with Mixon this offseason. According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the Bengals are prepared for a holdout in the event that an extension is not agreed upon before training camp.
“Joe Mixon. He enters his contract year with the organization prepared for a holdout if they can’t agree to a long-term deal.”
McCaffrey’s deal could serve to complicate the negotiation given just how robust the compensation is. Some around the league seemed to believe that the way large running back contracts have ended recently, with teams like the Rams and Cardinals having to extricate themselves from albatross-like contracts given to Todd Gurley and David Johnson, that the running back extension market would contract a bit from the highs of the Ezekiel Elliott record-setting contract, but it’s possible the McCaffrey deal might serve to fortify the position from further monetary constriction. The countervailing contention, and one that the Bengals are surely to use in their negotiation with his agent hinges on the fact that McCaffrey’s usage is legitimately singular in the NFL today, so perhaps that places him outside of the typical strictures of even the top-end of the running back position. One thing is for certain, McCaffrey’s contract is being noted by his contemporaries around the league and you can expect it to be broached in the organization’s discussions with Mixon’s representatives.
The positive thing to note is that there is motivation on both sides to get a deal consummated. The Bengals want a back like Mixon on the roster to support their young franchise quarterback, and Mixon obviously wants to remain with the team that drafted him and to secure a large payday at a position prone to risk. Both sides have work in front of them to ensure that comes to fruition.
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