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The Cincinnati Bengals want to get an extension done with star running back Joe Mixon.
By the sounds of comments from Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin, they’d like to do that this summer before the season starts.
But at what cost? According to Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Mixon wants to slot among the top eight at his position:
“Sources told The Enquirer, Mixon hopes to receive an extension that places him amongst the top eight highest-paid running backs in the league, which puts him north of $8 million a year. Carolina Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey signed an extension this offseason making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. He’ll average an annual salary of $16 million. New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley currently has the eighth-richest contract among running backs. Barkley’s average salary is $7.7 million a year.”
The positional value vs. Mixon’s value debate will rage on endlessly, but Tobin’s comments make it pretty clear the team wants to keep an ascending player regardless of position.
McCaffrey sits with the highest AAV around $16 million right now. Slotting Mixon eighth in AAV would put him just above Saquon Barkley at around $8 million per year.
Based on Mixon’s production and importance, that’s an agreeable landing spot for both parties — and better than say, the $12 million AAV Tennessee will pay Derrick Henry.
If both parties are open to this sort of number, a deal figures to happen sooner than later.
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