Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is reportedly on the roster bubble heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, with the front office giving him an ultimatum that will determine his future.
Mixon, a Pro Bowl selection in 2021, emerged as a potential cap casualty early this offseason. Cincinnati needs to create cap space to sign quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Tee Higgins to contract extensions. As a result, Mixon’s future with the team became uncertain.
- Joe Mixon stats (2022):Â 814 rushing yards, 47 first downs, 441 receiving yards
Already on the roster bubble, headlines created off the field have created more uncertainty. Mixon is facing one charge for aggravated menacing, stemming from an allegation that he pointed a gun at a woman in a road-rage incident before a playoff game in January.
A teenager was also shot outside Mixon’s home while participating in a Nerf gun battle this offseason. Mixon fully cooperated with the investigation and was later cleared by police, while his sister and her boyfriend received criminal charges.
The Bengals have scouted the running back prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft and reports have indicated they have some interest in free agent Ezekiel Elliott. While Cincinnati is expected to add a running back in the coming weeks, it appears Mixon will have one opportunity to stick around.
According to Paul Dehner Jr of The Athletic, the Bengals will ask Mixon to take a pay cut later this offseason. If he refuses or won’t renegotiate his deal to a figure the organization wants, he will be released before the season.
After earning his first Pro Bowl selection in 2021, Mixon’s production dipped this past season. He averaged just 58.1 rushing yards per game and averaged 3.9 yards per carry. It marked the second time in three seasons that the 6-foot-1 running back averaged fewer than 4 ypc.
Related: Cincinnati Bengals insider hits at increasing ‘certainty’ Joe Mixon is released
The Bengals’ approach with Mixon is similar to what other NFL teams have done with veterans, especially at running back. Given the lower percentage of starting-caliber players who willingly take pay cuts, it’s possible Mixon refuses and is eventually released.
While Cincinnati was already expected to use one of its 2023 picks on a running back, it will be a telling sign for Mixon’s future if the Bengals spend a second- or third-round pick on a running back next week.