The Cincinnati Bengals have a tough call to make on running back Joe Mixon this offseason.
To its credit, the front office knew it was coming and structured the potential out into Mixon’s extension signed a handful of years ago. If the team makes him a post-June 1 cut, it saves roughly $10 million.
Mixon’s so-so production (injuries played a part) and more importantly his needing to leave the field in key situations because of his struggles in pass protection combined with the contract to make him an obvious cut candidate.
So much so, Mixon just made the “all-roster-bubble team” at Spotrac, where Michael Ginnitti wrote the following:
“Mixon’s overall production dipped last season after a career-best 2021 campaign. Samaje Perine held his own in a relief role, but is slated for free agency next season. Will the Bengals look to bring him back at a respectable price and save on Mixon’s big deal? There’s $7.2M cap to be freed up Pre 6/1, $10M if processed after. Mixon would carry cap hits of $10.1M, $10.3M with him to a new team if a trade is the way forward.”
To Mixon’s credit, he’s on the list with some massive names like Keenan Allen Tyron Smith, Frank Clark and Ryan Tannehill.
There’s still an angle where Mixon and the Bengals can agree to some sort of contract restructure that keeps him in town. Aaron Jones and the Packers just wrote a sort of blueprint on this.
But either way, the Bengals figure to sniff around free agents and especially rookies in the draft who can come in and fit more of that three-down role next year.
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