How the Zack Moss Signing Will Be a Huge Upgrade for the Cincinnati Bengals — Grading the Move and What’s Next?

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up the first day of free agency with their most impactful move yet, one that was actually a 2-for-1 as they signed running back Zack Moss and cut running back Joe Mixon with one year left on his contract.

The reasons for cutting Mixon were obvious and are explained further here.

The Moss signing makes sense for Cincinnati as well.

Cincinnati Bengals Sign Zack Moss, Cut Joe Mixon

While Moss is roughly the same age as Mixon — Moss will be 27 in December and Mixon 28 in July — the former Indianapolis Colts running back has far less wear and tear on his frame and, most importantly, is a far more explosive runner.

Adding explosion to the run game has been a focus of the Bengals the last two offseasons as they look for backs who can punish defenses that play light boxes and sit back in two-high shells to defend Joe Burrow’s passes to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Moss averaged 4.3 yards per carry in 2023 and 4.9 in 2022. He had 15 explosive runs (12+ yards) on just 183 attempts and ranked fifth in rushing yards over expectation in 2023.

#Colts RB Zack Moss went to the locker room to be evaluated for an arm injury he suffered on this TD run.
pic.twitter.com/FaGW0vjyk5

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 16, 2023

He ranked 15th among backs with at least 150 carries in Pro Football Focus’ breakaway percentage metric. Mixon was 30th. And, Moss was 18th in PFF’s elusive rating (measuring the success and impact of a runner regardless of blocking). Mixon, again, was 30th.

Moss signed for a reported $8 million over two years. Mixon’s cap hit in 2024 would have been $8.4.

The Bengals can add another running back in free agency, and that player, Moss, Trayveon Williams — whom the team re-signed earlier on Monday — and Chase Brown will have a smaller combined cap hit than Mixon would have.

Perhaps the most attractive part of Moss’ game is how he performed during Jonathan Taylor’s absence due to injuries.

With Taylor starting 2023 on the Physically Unable to Perform list and forced to miss the first four games, Moss had 280 yards and a touchdown on 66 carries during his three starts (he was inactive for the season opener).

When Taylor missed the final three games in 2022 due to injury, Moss started all three games and had 252 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries.

A third-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2020, Moss contributed in the passing game as well, with 27 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

Grade: A

As good as Mixon was, time was catching up and the coaching staff was eager to move on and finally convinced owner Mike Brown to make the move.

Moss should be a substantial upgrade in terms of what the Bengals want the offense to look like, and he’ll do it at half the cost.

KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings

He’s been comfortable as a lead back and in a supporting role, which will free Zac Taylor and Dan Pitcher to mix and match the rushing attack from week to week, ride the hot hand within games, and not worry about bruising the ego of a star.

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