Joe Mixon May Hold Out

[NATI BENGALS]

(04-15-2020, 10:49 PM)samhain Wrote: I think it's a bad move for him to hold out. He's a terrific player, but he's replaceable if breaking the bank is what it takes to keep him.

He'd be better off playing out 2020, betting on himself. I think he's capable of a monster year if he's healthy and has a better team around him. IMO not playing will hurt more than it will help.

I also have to think that the team should expect some gratitude from him when negotiations start. Mixon was as radioactive as it gets when he came out of Oklahoma, and the Bengals may have been the only thing saving him from a free fall in the 2017 draft. I'm not saying he should play for a huge discount, but it would seem a bit disrespectful for him to try and bleed them dry and sit out for every penny.

It also seems like a tactical mistake to suggest that you might hold out a week before the draft. The team could just give him the finger and draft Edwards-Helaire in the 2nd or 3rd if they really wanted to dig in their heels. I know nobody wants to draft a RB early, but it might not be the dumbest idea if they think he's not on board. They're a year or 2 away from contending, either way, so they can be a bit patient. Losing Mixon in 2020 likely won't cost them a Lombardi.

Good points. RB was basically an after thought for me when it came to the draft. Now depending on how serious this is it just put RB back into the mix. I am normally a you draft a RB every year guy. But we drafted two last year so I was going to let it play out. Now I know we need to be on the lookout for value that falls at RB in the draft.

Our head coach just watched his old team struggle with releasing a young RB who they gave a giant contract to and put them in a bad financial situation. I don’t think he is going to be easy to convince paying huge money to a RB is worth it.

But I don’t think he would be better betting on himself. Another monster year and he could get a big payday. Or if Zeke and Run CMC struggle or if Mixon gets banged up he is looking at even more damage to his value. I would bet we are willing to give him a team friendly pay raise with a handsome sized guarantee. It won’t make him the highest paid RB. But it would set his family up for life and allow him to be a key piece on an up and coming contender for years to come.