A second-round pick in 2017, Joe Mixon’s time with the Cincinnati Bengals appears to be running out based on recent reporting. With the growing likelihood that Mixon could see himself cut from the team, which landing spots could make the most sense for one of the league’s most productive rushers?
Joe Mixon Reportedly Facing a Make-or-Break Decision
A situation that has been simmering away all the offseason has reached a boiling point.
In 2020, Mixon signed a four-year, $48 million extension, with two years currently left on it. He would be due to earn up to $10.1 million in 2023, including a base salary of $9.4 million and up to another $700,000 in per-game and workout bonuses.
According to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., the Bengals are attempting to negotiate a pay cut with Mixon. The team will likely release him if he doesn’t accept taking less money. In this “except the pay cut or be let go” situation, the Bengals could open up more than $7 million in salary cap savings by releasing him.
Mixon, 26, spent his entire career with Cincinnati. Yet, after a 2021 season with nearly 300 carries, 1,200 yards, and 13 touchdowns, Mixon was a disappointment in 2022. Despite playing in two fewer games last year, Mixon saw 82 fewer carries than the year prior, rushing 210 times for 814 yards with seven touchdowns.
The majority of Mixon’s metrics were also turning in the wrong direction; 25th in EPA per rush, 30th in rushes of 10+ yards (16), and 42nd in breakaway percentage at 19.1%. Additionally, Mixon averaged a missed tackle on just 10.9% of his carries.
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What has also not helped Mixon has been the offseason situation. It’s one thing to be having these discussions after a quality year. But when you’ve been unable to keep your name out of the headlines — for all the wrong reasons — things become quite a bit more precarious.
When asked at the league meetings, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn answered multiple times that Mixon remains on the team “right now.”
As the Bengals continue preparing for the draft, Mixon is attempting to resolve the case of aggravated menacing, which has been re-filed against him by the Cincinnati Police Department.
Based on Cincinnati’s moves this offseason at running back, including meeting with Zach Charbonnet at the NFL Combine, Camerun Peoples at his pro day, and inviting Arizona State RB Xazavian Valladay for a top-30 visit, the writing is on the walls. And it’s time for Mixon to do the same thing we are and determine which landing spots are the best for the 2023 season and beyond.
Is Joe Mixon the Missing Key for Buffalo?
Buffalo against Cincinnati has become one of the best rivalries in the AFC. Together with Kansas City, they’re currently the perennial favorites. However, Buffalo has yet to reach the mountaintop, which is beginning to feel like a disappointment based on the talent on the roster.
Should the Bills consider bringing in Mixon?
The salary cap space is a concern, as Buffalo currently has just $6.5 million in cap space, which they’ll need to use to sign their incoming rookie class. However, Mixon could be willing to take a smaller incentive-laden contract to play for a Super Bowl contender while rehabilitating his image on and off the field.
Buffalo allowed Devin Singletary to walk in free agency and currently enters the season with 2022 second-round pick James Cook and former Patriot Damien Harris as the leading rushers.
Nevertheless, as long as last year was not the new trend, Mixon would be a step up over both players. While risky, Buffalo is in a win-now window and, to me, is one of the most logical landing spots for Mixon.
Could Mixon Be the Austin Ekeler Replacement?
A story that has taken a bit of a backseat recently is Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler requesting a trade. Ekeler, who has a league-leading 38 touchdowns over the past two seasons, doesn’t want to be there anymore. This was a message he reiterated when speaking to SiriusXM Radio via Paulina Dedaj of Fox News.
“I kind of got punched in the face when the Chargers basically said, ‘Hey, we don’t want to talk about extensions anymore.’ This is the organization that I’ve continued to rise and hit new heights and continue to add more value … so, that’s how it felt, right? It felt like, ‘Wow, this is the first time in my career with them that I felt disrespected by my own organization.'”
This will become a two-step process for the Chargers, and while complicated, it could be very much worth it. The first is finding a trade partner willing to give up the draft capital to acquire Ekeler and give him the extension he is seeking. The second part is easy. Sign Mixon to the cheapest deal possible.
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Although, from an efficiency standpoint, these two running backs are very much on opposite sides of the spectrum. Los Angeles can’t afford to take a step back as they have a team ready to compete with a premier quarterback still on a rookie contract, which, as we’ve seen, is imperative to long-term success.
Losing Ekeler would decimate the rushing attack. Behind him, it’s unproven options like Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, and Larry Rountree III. Similar to Ekeler, Mixon has a three-down skill set. He’s a flashy player on the field and could bring that dynamic ability to the Bolts.
Would Mixon Consider the Dolphins a Potential Landing Spot?
One team I expected to be more heavily involved in the RB free agent market was the Miami Dolphins. After fielding the sixth-best offense in the NFL last year despite a first-year head coach and serious injuries to the starting quarterback, Miami still managed to rank just outside the top 10 in points per game.
However, they averaged just 99.2 rushing yards per game, which was good enough for 25th in the league. And yet, Miami opted to run it back, re-signing both Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert. But according to head coach Mike McDaniel, the team’s struggles on the ground had little to do with the players in the backfield.
“We had the opportunity to bring two of our strongest character contributors — and really players — we depend on in Raheem and Jeff. They’re both, I think, above 4.7 yards per carry, and when I look at the tape, I think there’d be a little bit of a different feeling if … we didn’t run the ball, not because they didn’t run the ball well. We didn’t run the ball well in games that we were overly injured or some games I just didn’t call enough runs.”
While I do appreciate a coach sticking up for his players, I would be curious to see where a poll of fans would place Mostert and Wilson on the pecking order of starting running backs. On the other hand, Mixon could be a fantastic fit and allow the Dolphins to address their RB position while not spending the necessary draft capital on someone like Jahmyr Gibbs or Charbonnet, assuming they are still on the board when the time comes.
Could Mixon Landing in Philly Help Them Get Back to the Super Bowl?
Reload and repeat. That should be the mantra of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. After winning the NFC title, the Eagles have a fantastic chance to do it again and make back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.
Although this time, they hope for better results. After locking up Jalen Hurts on a long-term contract, why not keep adding weapons around him?
Philadelphia was extremely aggressive on draft night last year by bringing in A.J. Brown, and I don’t think Howie Roseman or Nick Sirianni want their rushing game to take a step back. Behind their cheat code of an offensive line, the Eagles were fifth in the NFL in rushing a year ago, averaging 147.6 yards per game on the ground.
But that running game has become a bit of a question with Miles Sanders signing with the Carolina Panthers. And even though Rashaad Penny is exceptionally talented when on the field, staying on the field has been the most significant problem throughout his career. Only 10 times has he recorded 12 or more carries. However, he also averaged more than 120 yards per game in those said appearances.
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However, at the March league meetings, Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie also stated they won’t be shy about aggressively adding pieces on offense:
“Offenses dominate in this league, and that’s why we’ve always focused more resource allocation on making sure we have an outstanding offense because it’s very hard to stop — I’ll add Jalen to this list — the Jalen Hurts, the Patrick Mahomes, the Josh Allens, the Joe Burrows, the young guns and the old guns, Aaron Rodgers and all of that group. It’s impossible, given the rules of this league.”
Philadelphia did elect to re-sign Boston Scott on a one-year deal as well, but for a team that prefers to run a committee approach, the best way to keep Penny on the field would be to add players around him.
Someone like Mixon has 250+ touch capability and would be the premier No. 1. Along with Penny and Kenneth Gainwell, the Eagles’ rushing attack would not take a step back, yet their overall depth would increase. That’s close to a win-win as it gets.