Odd Roomers regarding the state of the Cincinnati Bengals In 2024, Cincinnati aims to sign an elite running back.
There aren’t many NFL teams with an offensive potency comparable to the Cincinnati Bengals’. On paper, Cincinnati possesses the most explosive aerial attack in the NFL after selecting Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and outstanding quarterback Joe Burrow. However, during the previous several seasons, the team has struggled to develop a running game to counterbalance the offence. Cincinnati has prioritised strengthening the offensive line with its free agents up until this point, but statistical probability suggest that the team may change course heading into the 2024 offseason.
During 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals are expected to add an elite running back.
Bookies.com states that Cincinnati is the second most probable team to sign All-Pro running back Derrick Henry in the offseason, based on gambling odds. After the 2023 NFL Season, the 247-pound power back will become a free agent for the first time in his NFL career, and Cincinnati was assigned +500 odds to sign him. The New England Patriots are the only team with greater odds than Cincinnati to sign the former Alabama standout, as Bookies.com listed them at +350.
To clear up any confusion, I will address this statement directly rather than skirting the subject: Cincinnati is not intending to bring Henry to the Queen City during the offseason. This is not meant as a slight to Henry—I think he’s the most exceptional running back the NFL has seen in the last 20 years—but it would be absurd for Cincinnati to spend so much money on a running back when they’ve been having trouble keeping the salary cap in check following Burrow’s $275 million, five-year contract that was awarded this offseason.
Following Burrow’s massive contract extension and the next contract talks with Chase and current free agent wide receiver Tee Higgins, Cincinnati’s four-year total of roughly $110 million will probably be locked up against the cap. Paying three of the team’s fifty-five rostered players would require 45% of the salary limit, with $240 million currently credited to the NFL salary cap. Even though they are excellent players, Cincinnati really cannot afford to add any more guys to the offensive line.
Additionally, Cincinnati already has Joe Mixon, a reliable running back, on staff. Although Mixon’s playing style and legal shenanigans, which include a family member shooting a youngster during a pleasant neighbourhood nerf war, have annoyed me, he definitely takes up every dollar I would like to contribute to the running back position. Henry would likely expect to come in at roughly $10 to $12 million, while Mixon is currently predicted to count $8 million against the 2024 Salary Cap.
Due to the declining value of big contracts at the running back position, Mixon is also on the bubble and could be cut by the team this summer. By cutting Mixon’s bloated contract and starting promising young running back Chase Brown, the team would save $6.1 million against the salary limit this season, as Mixon only has a $2.75 million dead cap charge.
To support that claim, consider that Brown had a little poorer Pro Football Focus (PFF) overall score of 63.9 last season, while Mixon had a mediocre overall score of 71.1 (34th in the NFL). Naturally, Brown’s cap hit is less than one million per season, whereas Mixon’s is eight million. While the PFF scores support Mixon’s release, they also highlight Henry’s calibre. The great Tennessee running back proved to be the most dangerous back in the NFL last season, finishing third with an incredible value total score of 90.2.
Although I have a great deal of respect for King Henry, I believe it would be disastrous to add him to a club that currently has much too much money committed to the offensive line positions. With the defence and offensive lines torpedoing in the upcoming offseasons, the team would soon be able to afford any other key player. While assembling a talented roster alone may seem like a good idea, Henry doesn’t match Cincinnati’s plan and would eventually draw unwanted attention.
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