Over the past month, the Cincinnati Bengals have been slated to make some strange moves in the offseason according to the gambling specialists. While Cincinnati has few major problems with the roster the way it sits, there are some people that want the team to make a splash by going after a marquee free agent signing at the running back position even though the team already have high profile running back Joe Mixon on the roster. While I have never been a gambler, announcements like the one listed below are one of the reasons I will never participate.
Bengals Chosen as Favorites for Another Big Time Running Back
As of right now, Cincinnati is listed on Bookies.com as the number one team aside from the New York Giants to land elite running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley is the second high profile running back suggested by Bookies.com to go to Cincinnati after the odds currently list the team as the second most likely team to land Derrick Henry as well. While both backs would be tremendous assets to Cincinnati, it makes virtually no sense to make either move.
After signing quarterback Joe Burrow to a monster five-year contract extension worth $275 million, the team is in dire straits on the offensive salary cap. After the anticipated record-setting contract extension this offseason to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and the possible re-signing of wide receiver Tee Higgins, the team will likely have close to 45% of their total salary cap allotment tied up in those three big names on offense.
The last thing the team needs is to drop any more money after the inevitable release of Mixon from such a move would cost an additional $3 million. Considering the salary of either back would likely be at least $4 million more per year than Mixon, that would be an extra $6 million towards the cap for a slight upgrade at a fairly insignificant position in modern football.
Another substantial reason is that Cincinnati is in the process of developing a new running back prospect as rookie Chase Brown had an excellent season in 2023. After starting off slow, Brown started to make a major impact late in the season as his big play ability is apparent in the Cincinnati backfield. Mixon may end being cut this offseason to save approximately $6 million on the salary cap after his dead cap hit is applied but Chase should be given the opportunity as the starter in Cincinnati rather than an aging star from another team.
To sign either Barkley or Henry would be a text book “Madden Move” that wouldn’t contribute anything to the offense but overpopulating the playmaker positions. To bring in a running back of that caliber would be a commitment to giving them the ball at least 20 times per game. That’s 20 times out of a max of 70 or so that the ball doesn’t go to one of the other elite receivers. After all, when you have a quarterback like Burrow, you want the ball in his hands as much as possible with a change-of-pace running game rather than the other way around.
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