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Extending Joe Mixon: The Cases For and Against

By Aaron Burd

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 16: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrtaes after the game against the Oakland Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 16: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrtaes after the game against the Oakland Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 15: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the ball during the second half against the New England Patriots at Paul Brown Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 15: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the ball during the second half against the New England Patriots at Paul Brown Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The Case Against Extending Joe Mixon

While Mixon is one of the best players at his position in the league, the running back position has significantly lost value in the modern-day NFL. Only three of the top ten running backs in the NFL in rushing yards were on playoff teams in the 2019-2020 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, who faced off in Super Bowl LIV, both had rushing attacks led by a running back by committee system as opposed to having a workhorse running back. If the Bengals wanted to save money, they could move on from Mixon and replace him with a committee approach to the position.

Running backs who get lucrative extensions have not had a good track record in the past few years. Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley, Le’Veon Bell, and David Johnson have all gotten big contracts recently and many would agree that all of those deals have gone poorly for the teams involved.

Elliott was given a contract that pays $15 Million a year, and while he may have rushed for 1,357 yards, the Dallas Cowboys went 8-8, missed the playoffs, and are now struggling to find the money to extend both Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper. The Los Angeles Rams may have reached the Super Bowl the season after extending Gurley, but he was a non-factor in the playoffs and after a disappointing season in 2019, has been brought up as a potential trade candidate. The Bengals may look at these examples and hesitate to do the same with Mixon.

If the front office chooses not to pay Mixon, they could spend the money they save on him by signing free agents on the offensive line or defense, or they could even extend other players like A.J. Green or William Jackson III. If the Bengals are willing to sign outside free agents or extend other players, they may find it necessary to move on from Mixon.

Mixon may be a valuable piece to the Bengals on offense, but they should not give him a lucrative extension because the running back position has last value in the NFL, teams who have spent big on the position have been unsuccessful in recent history, and they could spend the money they save on other players.

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