Could Joe Mixon be the next veteran RB to be cut?
Veteran running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook have been released by their teams this offseason, but could there be one more surprise cut at the position before the start of the 2023 season?
NFL insider Ian Rapoport isn't so sure about that.
"If Dalvin Cook's not going to get traded, Joe Mixon's not going to get traded. So, if a trade's not going to happen, I didn't get the sense the Bengals would release him unless they had someone to replace him with," Rapoport said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "He seemed like he was getting a lot of support from the team. I think that makes a lot of sense and it looks like probably going to be with them going forward."
Behind Mixon on Cincinnati's depth chart sits rookie RB Chase Brown and RB Trayveon Williams, who has just 238 yards and zero touchdowns from 2019-22.
So, it's probably in the team's best interest to role with Mixon once again in 2023 and then maybe revisit the idea of releasing him next offseason.
The Bengals will be able to save over $10 million in cap space if they were to cut the soon-to-be 27-year-old next offseason as he only carries a $2.75 million dead cap hit.
Mixon hasn't been viewed as one of the top running backs in the league but he has been reliable for Cincinnati, posting 2,019 yards and 20 touchdowns over the past two years.
The running back position has been disrespected but it seems Mixon has bought himself at least one more year in the Bengals' uniform.
More must-reads: