Former Pro Bowler Issues Strong Statement On Potential Release

Joe Mixon, the Cincinnati Bengals’ running back, is one of the NFL’s most favored cut candidates. Mixon, who was picked in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, has been one of the team’s most dependable and consistent starters over the last seven years. However, time comes for everyone, and current speculations suggest that the Bengals may split company with their longstanding starter.
For what it’s worth, these rumors are not unfounded. Mixon is presently in the final year of his contract, with a $8.5 million cap charge. If the Bengals cut Joe Mixon, they can free up $5.75 million in cap space. Cincinnati presently has $61.4 million in cap space, but they are set to run out of cash. Tee Higgins will most likely receive the franchise tag, Joe Burrow’s salary charge will skyrocket soon, and the team must also save some money for Ja’Marr Chase.
There are indications that the Bengals may cut Joe Mixon, but the running back is unconcerned. The former Pro Bowler recently took to X (previously Twitter) to say that this report is “clown behavior” and that a similar story circulated at this time last year.

Joe Mixon is correct in saying that he is familiar with the cut rumor. Last year, at this stage, some expected the Bengals to release the veteran, as doing so would have saved them a significant amount of contract room. That did not happen, and Mixon finished the 2023 season as Cincinnati’s primary running back.
There is a chance Joe Mixon is correct and the Bengals opt not to cut him, especially because this is expected to be a weak running back draft class. However, Mixon is not getting any younger, and Cincinnati will need to consider the pay cap as Burrow’s contract hit grows. Running back is a luxury position, and Cincinnati may decide that they can make do with Chase Brown and an inexpensive free agent like Zack Moss.
This is sheer speculation, but it appears that the Bengals will cut Joe Mixon at 50/50 odds. While his time with the Bengals may be over, his NFL career is far from over. Even though he isn’t the player he once was, multiple teams should be eager to sign the running back on a short-term basis.
Nobody knows what the Baltimore Ravens plan to do at running back. With J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards about to hit free agency, the Ravens could have a brand new face heading their backfield in 2024. That face may be Joe Mixon, a perfect fit if the Bengals release him. After seven seasons of sharing a division, the Ravens should know how to use Mixon, and his seasoned experience will ensure he gets every yard he can as defenses focus on stopping Lamar Jackson.

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the few teams that still believe in the benefits of a three-down running back. They thought they had one of those in Tony Pollard, but the former fourth-round pick struggled to perform when given such a heavy workload. Mixon may not be the most explosive runner in the game, but he can handle a large number of touches. If the Bengals cut Joe Mixon, he might soon find a place on America’s team.
After years of serving as Dalvin Cook’s backup, Alexander Mattison was finally given the opportunity to establish himself as an NFL starting running back. Unfortunately, he was not up to the challenge, and he concluded the season as one of the league’s least effective backs in almost every category. If the Vikings re-sign Kirk Cousins, they will need a proven veteran to take over starting duties for a club that should be looking to make the playoffs. They might potentially cut Alexander Mattison and replace him with Joe Mixon as their starting running back in 2024.