Former Bengals Running Back Makes ESPN's Top-10 RBs List, No Bengals Mentioned in Voting Pool

 The Bengals did not see Chase Brown make the list of top-10 NFL running backs on ESPN, but former Cincinnati rusher Joe Mixon is on the group.

Jeremy Fowler canvassed NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to vote for the 10-name group.

"Really good vision, feet, contact balance -- a hammer in the run game," an NFL personnel evaluator said to Fowler about Mixon. "Looked worn down at the end of the season, but overall that was a really good trade for Houston."

It doesn't make much sense to have Mixon on this list entering his age-29 season. Warren Sharp noted this week that he was atrocious in deeper rushing metrics across the 2024 season, ranking bottom-three among 46 qualified rushers in explosiveness, success rate, and run stuff rate. 

Of the 21 running backs mentioned in the ranking, Chase Brown was not one of them after posting 1,300-plus scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Pairing another season like that this fall should have him at least garner a vote next summer.