The NFL offseason has not been kind of Cincinnati Bengals star running back Joe Mixon, as he’s dealt with off-the-field problems and a shaky status with the team that drafted him in 2017.
Although Mixon has been a solid contributor out of the backfield for the Bengals, the 26-year-old has become expendable like many other star backs around the league, with the team looking to get him to reportedly take a pay cut or they’ll move on.
According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic via Dov Kleiman, the Bengals will likely release Mixon if he’s unwilling to pay cut.
Update: The #Bengals are expected to ask RB Joe Mixon to take a pay-cut, if he doesn’t accept it he’ll be let go, @pauldehnerjr noteshttps://t.co/2McjlEei8v pic.twitter.com/oc5I2VRvKq
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 18, 2023
Here are some fan reactions to the news about Mixon and the Bengals potentially letting him go if he doesn’t agree to be paid less:
Mixon has the 5th highest cap hit of any running back in 2023
Mixon’s 2022 Stats:
210 att, 814 yrds, 3.9 ypc, 7 tds
60 rec, 441 yrds, 2 tdsHowever, the Bengals lost their other important rb, Semaje Perine, in free agency…so it’s going to be interesting to see what happens…
— The Owl (@TheOwl_NFL) April 18, 2023
He’s an eagle
— Jerd (@Jared3O2) April 18, 2023
5th best RB in the AFC North, not moved
— Darren Young (@Kdawg220233) April 18, 2023
— stickybun (@stickybunnn) April 18, 2023
Seahawk then
— M3LO (@Dkay206_) April 18, 2023
Earlier in the NFL offseason, the Dallas Cowboys parted ways with star running back Ezekiel Elliott after a 12-touchdown season and seven years of service.
The running back position is becoming less and less valuable to teams around the league despite the production of some of the best players at the position, like Elliott and Mixon.
Even superstar Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans and four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings are rumored to be on the cutting block, so it doesn’t seem like any star back is safe right now.
It also doesn’t help veterans like these two that there are a lot of talented young backs in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, which come at a significant discount for the next few years on rookie deals.
