AFC North team a dark-horse candidate for All-Pro RB?

According to the latest odds from Odds Checker, the Cincinnati Bengals aren't even in the running to land Ezekiel Elliott. But could they be an under-the-radar candidate to land the workhorse back? 

Elliott was released by the Cowboys on March 15. Since then, he’s been linked to several teams but has had no takers thus far. Shortly after his release, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the 27-year-old running back had narrowed his options to three teams: the Eagles, Jets and Bengals.

Jets’ running backs Breece Hall and Michael Carter immediately expressed their displeasure with the idea of playing with Elliott. Considering the team’s never-ending courtship of Aaron Rodgers, the last thing the Jets need right now is more drama.

Philadelphia players seemed more open to the idea. Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce and Darius Slay all voiced approval for the move, but Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni recently said he is happy with his stable of ball carriers, even going so far as to praise fourth-string running back Trey Sermon.

That leaves the Bengals. Joe Mixon is the team’s lead back but his 814 yards in 2022 were the third-fewest of his career. He’s also been re-charged with aggravated menacing for allegedly pointing a gun at a woman in January. Factor in the loss of Samaje Perine and suddenly Elliott looks like a perfect fit.

The Ohio native was recently spotted hanging out with Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase at an EXOS training center. The two share an agent and are close friends but given recent developments, it’s a situation worth monitoring.