Arkansas Bengal Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterJan 29, 2024, 11:00 AM CINCINNATI -- One day after the Cincinnati Bengals' season officially ended, scenes inside their locker room offered reminders about the team's upcoming reality. Players traded jerseys with personalized messages, a tradition generally observed after games between players from opposing teams who are friends. Others bagged or boxed up their belongings and said their goodbyes before leaving town. And some offered words about an uncertain future. One of them was defensive tackle DJ Reader, a cornerstone of Cincinnati's rebuild. A right quad injury in Week 15 ended Reader's fourth season with the Bengals and the final one under his current contract. Standing on crutches, Reader pondered the end of this current iteration of the Bengals and what free agency might look like for him. And he had no idea. "It's kind of interesting," Reader said Jan. 8. "I'm in the middle of [the COVID-19 pandemic] last time. This time, I'll be in the middle of this [injury situation]. You never know. I don't know how it'll be." When free agency begins March 11, Reader will be one of a few key Bengals who could sign with a new club. According to OverTheCap.com, the Bengals will have a little less than $60 million in cap space. And Cincinnati will have some important decisions to make ahead of a pivotal 2024 season. DJ Reader Position: Defensive tackle Age: 29 2023 stats: 14 games, 20 tackles, one sack Outlook: Don't be fooled by the numbers. Reader was the first player the Bengals signed in 2020 free agency, a couple of months before drafting quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick. Reader signed a four-year deal worth $53 million in what was then the most the Bengals had ever given to an external free agent. Quad injuries ended his 2020 and 2023 seasons. But when he was healthy, he was a massive piece of Cincinnati's success. "He's just such a leader, such a consistent force on the defensive line," Bengals coach Zac Taylor said after Reader's season-ending injury. Reader carried a $15.6 million cap charge in 2023, according to Roster Management System. It's unclear what kind of market he will have coming off the injury. With Cincinnati incurring steep costs to maintain its offensive core, the Bengals will have to decide whether they can afford to have Reader back. Tee Higgins Position: Wide receiver Age: 25 2023 stats: 12 games, 42 catches, 656 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns Outlook: Multiple factors led to Higgins' least productive year with the Bengals. He battled a couple of serious injuries -- a fractured rib in a Week 4 loss to the Tennessee Titans and a hamstring injury he suffered in a practice later in the season. He also had to contend with not getting a long-term deal done before the start of the season. Higgins caught 54.5% of his targets, the lowest catch rate of his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information. But his value was underscored in a Week 15 win over the Minnesota Vikings. With star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase leaving the end of the game because of a shoulder injury, Higgins stepped up and had four catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns, including an acrobatic 21-yard reception that was one of the top catches of the year. Higgins is a prime candidate to receive the franchise tag, which the Bengals have used in two of the past three offseasons. In 2020, Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green played on the tag. Two years later, safety Jessie Bates III played on the tag and cashed in 2023, when he signed a four-year deal worth $64 million with the Atlanta Falcons. Even with Chase in line for a massive contract extension soon, the Bengals can give Higgins a tag that is estimated to be worth $21.7 million by OverTheCap. Chase will be in the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, and Burrow's cap charge doesn't balloon until 2025. Burrow has already stated his desire to have Higgins back for at least one more season. "I expect him to be back," Burrow said Jan. 8. "I know everybody in the locker room wants him back." Joe Mixon is due a $3 million roster bonus on March 18, the fifth day of the new league year. If the Bengals cut him before then, they will gain $5.8 million in cap savings. Joe Mixon Position: Running back Age: 27 2023 stats: 17 games, 257 carries, 1,034 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns The outlook: Mixon faces an uncertain offseason for the second straight year. In 2023, Mixon accepted a renegotiated contract that lowered his salary cap charge to $8.4 million. The new deal featured a couple of important incentives, and he cashed in at the end of the season. He scored 12 total touchdowns, earning $350,000. And by the numbers, he was certainly productive. Mixon amassed 1,410 scrimmage yards. Since 2015, that is the eighth-highest total posted by a running back in his seventh NFL season or later, according to ESPN Stats & Information. But Mixon lacks the explosiveness that Cincinnati needs to punish opponents who are defending against Burrow and the Bengals' passing game. Among running backs with at least 100 carries, Mixon ranked 15th on runs of 10 or more yards against light defensive boxes (six or fewer defenders). That remains a point of emphasis for the Bengals this offseason. The Bengals will have to decide on Mixon's contract early. He is due a $3 million roster bonus on March 18, the fifth day of the new league year. If the Bengals cut him before then, they will gain $5.8 million in cap savings. While Mixon has been productive, Cincinnati is looking for more big plays on the ground in 2024, which could play a role in whether Mixon returns for his eighth season with the Bengals. "I think this offseason we'll be able to take a step," Burrow said. https://africa.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39387004/bengals-biggest-decisions-include-tee-higgins-joe-mixon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 Tee is getting tagged, Mixon plays out his contract and they find a guy to replace him next year. The question mark is Reader. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claptonrocks Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, Jamie_B said: Tee is getting tagged, Mixon plays out his contract and they find a guy to replace him next year. The question mark is Reader. Doubt Reader is ready for the start of season They aren't paying him a full season to play 8 games or so. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 56 minutes ago, claptonrocks said: Doubt Reader is ready for the start of season They aren't paying him a full season to play 8 games or so. I tend to agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Ray Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, claptonrocks said: Doubt Reader is ready for the start of season They aren't paying him a full season to play 8 games or so. That could make him affordable for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky151 Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 There's no reason to carry Mixon for another year when we could find a powerback with younger legs who would be an upgrade in pass protection. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claptonrocks Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 18 minutes ago, Sea Ray said: That could make him affordable for us Maybe if he takes 1/2 year salary I'm sure his agent won't agree unless Reader wants to stay here badly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spicoli Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, sparky151 said: There's no reason to carry Mixon for another year when we could find a powerback with younger legs who would be an upgrade in pass protection. Yeah I seriously doubt we see Mixon back here again. Time to start over with that group…other than Brown 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|BlackJesus| Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 Tag Tee, cut Mixon if he won't restructure his salary in half, and then offer Reader a 1 year $7 million deal to only play in the last 7 regular season games (plus playoffs), his same rate he made last season (roughly 1 mil per game). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spicoli Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 2 minutes ago, BlackJesus said: cut Mixon if he won't restructure his salary in half He already did that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|BlackJesus| Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 2 minutes ago, spicoli said: He already did that Yeah he needs to do it again to stay. He's older, slower, and can't hit the hole like before. Plus he spends his free time letting felons treat his backyard like Fallujah. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spicoli Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 Just now, BlackJesus said: Yeah he needs to do it again to stay. He's older, slower, and can't hit the hole like before. Plus he spends his free time letting felons treat his backyard like Fallujah. He won’t be back 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 I saw DET with 2 pounding runners last night. They hit holes FAST and didn’t stop running. Pacheco is like that too. When Joe has the same openings those three have, he is just as explosive, and runs just as hard (other than that annoying first contact go-down thing). Chase is ultra-quick attacking the edge and the off guards. But that is all they have. Yeah the draft…look for another one. Maybe another Montgomery or Pacheco out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|BlackJesus| Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 ^ CEH is also going to be a free agent from KC ... Burrow's old RB from LSU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 He has some attack game. And a good receiver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky151 Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 43 minutes ago, BlackJesus said: Yeah he needs to do it again to stay. He's older, slower, and can't hit the hole like before. Plus he spends his free time letting felons treat his backyard like Fallujah. Even if Mixon played for the minimum salary, he's a terrible blocker and slow. By this point in his career, he isn't going to get any better. But the draft is full of guys who are not only cheaper but better than Joedean. They can be had on day 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Y'all are hilarious. We aren't cutting Mixon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 3 hours ago, sparky151 said: There's no reason to carry Mixon for another year when we could find a powerback with younger legs who would be an upgrade in pass protection. but the smiles, you're not thinking about all the smiles 3 minutes ago, Jamie_B said: Y'all are hilarious. We aren't cutting Mixon. But probably should Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 4 minutes ago, T-Dub said: But probably should..... .... get some guys in front of him that can run block. FIFY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claptonrocks Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 2 hours ago, Le Tigre said: I saw DET with 2 pounding runners last night. They hit holes FAST and didn’t stop running. Pacheco is like that too. When Joe has the same openings those three have, he is just as explosive, and runs just as hard (other than that annoying first contact go-down thing). Chase is ultra-quick attacking the edge and the off guards. But that is all they have. Yeah the draft…look for another one. Maybe another Montgomery or Pacheco out there They're out there. Get a punishing runner to combo with Brown. Thunder and Lightning.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 57 minutes ago, Jamie_B said: .... get some guys in front of him that can run block. FIFY Luckily for you they are going to do that with the money they save cutting Joe. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 27 minutes ago, JC said: Luckily for you they are going to do that with the money they save cutting Joe. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claptonrocks Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 1 hour ago, Jamie_B said: Y'all are hilarious. We aren't cutting Mixon. Why wouldn't they. Cap savings and fresh legs on a younger back. I think he's toast here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 24 minutes ago, claptonrocks said: Why wouldn't they. Cap savings and fresh legs on a younger back. I think he's toast here. because it would make him frown and that's sad 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claptonrocks Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 1 minute ago, T-Dub said: because it would make him frown and that's sad Too bad..see ya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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