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Paul Dehner Jr. on Joe Mixon's Future in Cincinnati: 'Don't Have a Reason' For Bengals to Keep Him

From stats to finances, keeping Mixon around is a tough sell for a team pursuing its first Super Bowl.

Russ Heltman

In this story:

CINCINNATI — The writing's on the wall for Cincinnati to move on from Joe Mixon this offseason. 

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. could only come up with "sentimental" reasons for keeping the heavily-used running back.

"I don't have a reason," Dehner told Mo Egger on ESPN 1530. "I don't have a reason other than some sort of sentimental attachment would be one. Maybe they like the idea of having a power back on the roster that can maybe get some tough yards, and wear some people down over the course of a game. But that's not who they are or want to be. And in no world are you spending $8.5 million on your cap for that role. So I don't really have that answer other than there is attachment to a guy who's been around for a long time. I think everybody would like to think that them as a business are better than that."

The 27-year-old is due a $3 million roster bonus on March 17 and has an $8.85 million cap hit for 2024. Cincinnati clears $5.8 million in cap space if they part ways with the former Pro Bowler.

That money could go to other more impactful players and open the door for another much-needed explosive piece alongside Chase Brown.

Dehner lays out more sound reasoning for moving on from Mixon here.

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Russ Heltman
RUSS HELTMAN

Russ Heltman is a contributor for AllBearcats and AllBengals. He is the morning host and producer for 89.3 WMKV in Cincinnati, OH.  Russ can be found on Twitter: @RussHeltman11 or you can reach him by email at Heltmandm@yahoo.com.

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