Joe's not stupid...a restructured contract in Cincy is more than he'll get on the street...if he got anything

The #Bengals and RB Joe Mixon are finalizing a restructured contract that will keep him in Cincinnati for the 2023 season, per sources.

Mixon was due $10.1 million this season with a $12.791M cap number. The new deal frees up cash and cap for Cincinnati, and Mixon stays as RB1. pic.twitter.com/gtOTGYn3hQ

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 14, 2023

With 12 grueling days left until the 2023 Bengals training camp begins, who do you feel will be this years training camp darling that seemingly everyone is pulling for to make the team?

I'm not talking about the drafted players that we all expect to make the roster, I'm asking who is that UDFA who you feel could shine bright enough to possibly displace someone for a spot on the 53? For me, I expect that player to be Shaka Heyward.

He's got the physical tools to hang in the NFL, along with that Heyward bloodline and Duke Univ. smarts to make those end of camp cuts a harder decision to make.

There's my pick, who you got, and why?

We now move to the defensive side of the ball to rank our next group and the group is off-ball LBs (basically LBs who are rush specialists). After you vote don't forget to list your Top 3. So, where you got Germaine, Logan, and LDJ? As always, the competition:

ATL: TROY ANDERSON-KADEN ELLISS-MYKAL WALKER
ARZ: BJ OJULARI-KYZIR WHITE-OWEN PAPPOE
BAL: ROQUAN SMITH-PATRICK QUEEN-TRENTON SIMPSON
BUF: AJ KLIEN-MATT MILANO-TYREL DODSON
CAR: SHAQ THOMPSON-FRANKIE LUVU-BRANDON SMITH
CHI: TJ EDWARDS-TREMAINE EDMUNDS-JACK SANBORN
CLV: JEREMIAH OWUSU-ANTHONY WALKER-SIONE TAKITAKI
DAL: LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH-DAMONE CLARK-JABRIL COX
DEN: ALEX SINGLETON-NIK BONITTO-JOSEY JEWELL
DET: JACK CAMPBELL-ALEX ANZALONE-MALCOLM RODRIGUEZ
GBP: DEVONDRE CAMPBELL-QUAY WALKER-ISAIAH MCDUFFIE
HOU: DENZEL PERRYMAN-CHRISTIAN KIRKSEY-CHRISTIAN HARRIS
IND: SHAQ LEONARD-EJ SPEED-ZAIRE FRANKLIN
JAX: DEVON LLOYD-FOYESADE OLUOKUN-CHAD MUMA
KCC: DRUE TRANQUILL-WILLIE GAY-NICK BOLTON
LVR: DIVINE DEABLO-ROBERT SPILLANE-LUKE MASTERSON
LAC: ERIC KENDRICKS-KENNETH MURRAY-DAIYAN HENLEY
LAR: ERNEST JONES-CHRISTIAN ROZEBOOM-JAKE HUMMEL
MIA: DAVID LONG-JEROME BAKER-CHANNING TINDALL
MIN: BRIAN ASSAMOAH-JORDAN HICKS-TROY REEDER
NEP: JAWHAUN BENTLEY-JAHLANI TAVAI-MACK WILSON
NOS: PETE WERNER-DEMARIO DAVIS-ZACK BAUN
NYG: BOBBY OKEREKE-DARRIAN BEAVERS-JARRAD DAVIS
NYJ: JAMIEN SHERWOOD-CJ MOSELY-QUINCY WILLIAMS
PHI: NAKOBE DEAN-NICHOLAS MORROW-NOLAN SMITH
PIT: COLE HOLCOMB-ELANDON ROBERTS-MARK ROBINSON
SFF: DRE GREENLAW-FRED WARNER-OREN BURKS
SEA: JORDYN BROOKS-BOBBY WAGNER-DEVIN BUSH
TBB: DEVIN WHITE-LAVONTE DAVID-ULYSEES GILBERT
TEN: AZEEZ ALSHAAIR-MONTY RICE-BEN NEIMAN
WAS: DAVID MAYO-CODY BARTON-JAMIN DAVIS

NOTABLE FAs: ZACH CUNNINGHAM-DEION JONES-MYLES JACK-KYLE VAN NOY

Ok, let me start off by saying preseason power rankings are meaningless. So just for discussion:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-preseason-power-rankings-how-s-your-team-looking-for-2023/ss-AA1dRzhB?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=602641ededb84b78a4bdbd1eba75d8a5&ei=6#image=28

The top 12:

1. Chiefs - can't really argue that much

2. Eagles - can the magic return for Hurts? The guy started out looking like he had bust written all over him. He really turned it around last year.

3. Bengals - I believe we're 2 but I'll not ***** to much with #3

4. 49ers - QB room is a hot mess! I'm not sure I believe in Purdy yet? Darnold well ummm. And Tre Lance is a giant ??? But I still think they're a top team.

5. Bills - I believe the Bills dominance is now heading into it's downhill run but they're still gonna make some noise so...

6. Ravens - I just don't trust LJ that much. His passing stats after 2019 (which didn't blow anybody away) are just very pedestrian, to be nice. I'm just not convinced they're the 3rd best AFC team?

7. Cowboys - I can see the boys in the mix this year. Like almost always I think they'll get bounced early.

8. Chargers - depending on how Broncos recover with Payton now at the helm I can see them making waves.

9. Seahawks - umm I just can't get onboard with Geno Smith pulling another rabbit out of his hat.

10. Lions - finished strong last season, I can see them in the mix again.

11. Dolphins - can Tua stay healthy? not a lot of faith there for me.

12. Jaguars - they may be higher then this?

Here's a couple that I would keep an eye on. Feel free to add player's but please be semi realistic!

Milton Williams 3T Eagles- the Bengals reportedly loved him coming out of college in the 21 NFL draft season.

Cordell Paterson RB/WR/KR Atlanta Falcons- they have a stacked RB room. He could be a nice backup for us!

I've been saying for so long that, if we can run the ball efficiently, we're the best offense in the NFL.

I always refer back to the one game where you can hear Burrow telling Mixon "if we can run the ball like that, no one can beat us."

We faced seven or more in the box 51.9% of the time, which was the 4th highest in the league, and Burrow still destroyed teams.

This article on ESPN mentions how explosive runs, and just a run game in general, will be key to our success.

Knowing that his time in the league could be running short, I think Mixon runs like a mad man this season and then I think Chase Brown comes in as a rookie and makes some noise.

There's also veteran free agents like Dalvin Cook and Zeke Elliot, I could see us adding someone once the price goes down and we get Burrow signed.

Here's the article:

Quote:CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals running back Trayveon Williams has a good sense of when a good run turns into a great one.

Once he gets past the first level of defenders and gets to the linebackers, he knows exactly what the stakes are.

“You make that second guy miss,” Williams said. “And then when you really get into space, it’s like, ‘OK, this is the one.’ That’s obviously when big things happen.”


The problem is the Bengals didn't get enough of those big plays on the ground last season.

Cincinnati considers an explosive rushing play to be 12 yards or more. The team’s running backs had 14 of those in 2022, tied with Houston for the lowest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Bengals know that number must increase if they want to have one of the league’s best offenses this season.

"That'll be critical for us this year,” quarterback Joe Burrow said at the end of the team’s mandatory minicamp in June. “We all know teams plan to play us with how they played us last year and the end of the year before.”

Burrow is referencing the defensive formations that were aimed at stopping the number of big plays through the air. When Burrow recovered from his torn left knee ligaments in 2021 and the team added Ja’Marr Chase, the passing attack was among the league’s most explosive.

That season, Cincinnati had 16 touchdowns on completions of 25 or more yards, the highest amount in the NFL. The Bengals also had a league-high 8.7 yards per passing attempt. Eventually, opposing defensive coordinators took notice and often positioned two safeties at the back of the formation, forcing Burrow and the Bengals to methodically move down the field.

Creating big carries on the ground could force defenses to commit more players to stop the run, opening things up in the passing game.

Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan pointed out in June that the Bengals had an efficient rushing attack in 2022. But now the biggest point of emphasis for Cincinnati’s offense is being explosive on the ground and not just efficient. Turning five-yard carries into ones that go for 15 or 20 yards is paramount.

“That’s where people get nervous,” Callahan said.

Opposing teams are more than happy to let the Bengals run rampant on the ground. Last season, Cincinnati faced seven or fewer defenders on 51.9% of its offensive snaps. That rate of “light boxes” was the fourth highest in the league, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

The Bengals know they need to punish opposing defenses and create more pass-friendly looks.

“We're excited about the run game and the running backs that we have,” Burrow said in June. “And we're excited about the offensive line that we have and we'll be able to hit some explosive runs this year and get teams out of those boxes.”

Toward the end of last season, Callahan said the Bengals did a better job of blending their running formation while Burrow was in shotgun, an aspect that remained a point of emphasis this offseason. Cincinnati’s 172 rushing yards — and two designed run plays of 12-plus yards — in January’s AFC divisional playoff win against the Buffalo Bills was the type of performance the Bengals want to have in 2023.

Joe Mixon,  who is entering his seventh NFL season, will have to lead a better rushing attack. Since 2021, just 8.4% of Mixon’s carries are for 10-plus yards, which ranks 40th among 46 running backs during that span.

Samaje Perine, Mixon’s back-up the last two seasons, signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos that included $3 million guaranteed this offseason. Williams, who re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year deal, will be in the mix to get more carries. Rookie Chase Brown and veteran Chris Evans enter training camp as other options in the backfield.

But no matter who is carrying the ball for Cincinnati this season, the point still remains.

“Explosive (plays) are everything,” Williams said. “Explosives really dictate an average offense and an amazing offense.”

Ken Anderson is one of the 31 semi-finalists for the NFL Hall of Fame senior committee. This is his 3rd time as a semi finalist.

Next round of voting is July 27. The finalists will be voted on Aug 22

The members of the Ring of Honor will be inducted on Monday, Sep 25th at halftime during the Rams game.

One of the many things I do each year is a series of threads where we rank out position groups against the rest of the NFL. The time has come to kick off the 2023 series and we'll start with our RBs: So, where you got Mix, Tray, and Chase compared to the rest of the league?

As always, the competition:

ATL: BIJAN ROBINSON-TYLER ALIGEIER-CORDARRELLE PATTERSON
ARZ: JAMES CONNER-KEONTAY INGRAM-COREY CLEMENT
BAL: JK DOBBINS-GUS EDWARDS-JUSTICE HILL
BUF: JAMES COOK-DAMIEN HARRIS-LATAVIUS MURRAY
CAR: MILES SANDERS-CHUBA HUBBARD-RAHEEM BLACKSHEAR
CHI: D’ONTA FOREMAN-KHALIL HERBERT-ROSCHON JOHNSON
CLV: NICK CHUBB-JEROME FORD-DEMETRIC FELTON
DAL: TONY POLLARD-MALIK DAVIS-RONALD JONES
DEN: JAVONTE WILLIAMS-SAMAJIE PERINE-TONY JONES JR
DET: JAHMYR GIBBS-DAVID MONTGOMERY-CRAIG REYNOLDS
GBP: AARON JONES-AJ DILLON-PATRICK TURNER
HOU: DAMEON PIERCE-DEVIN SINGLETARY-MIKE BOONE
IND: JONATHAN TAYLOR-ZACK MOSS-DEON JACKSON
JAX: TRAVIS ETIENNE-TANK BIGSBY-LAMYCAL HASTY
KCC: ISIAH PACHECO-JERICK MCKINNON-CLYDE EDWARDS HELAIRE
LVR: JOSH JACOBS-ZAMIR WHITE-AMEER ABDULLAH
LAC: AUSTIN ECKLER-JOSHUA KELLEY-ISIAH SPILLER
LAR: CAM AKERS-SONY MICHEAL-KYREN WILLIAMS
MIA: RAHEEM MOSTART-JEFF WILSON-DEVON ACHANE
MIN: ALEXANDER MATTISON-TY CHANDLER-DEWAYNE MCBRIDE
NEP: RHAMONDRE STEVENSON-PIERRE STRONG-TY MONTGOMERY
NOS: ALVIN KAMARA-JAMAAL WILLIAMS-KENDRE MILLER
NYG: SAQUON BARKLEY-MATT BREDIA-ERIC GRAY
NYJ: BREECE HALL-MICHAEL CARTER-ISRAEL ABANIKANDA
PHI: D’ANDRE SWIFT-RASHAD PENNY-KENNETH GAINWELL
PIT: NAJEE HARRIS-JAYLEN WARREN-ANTHONY MCFARLAND
SFF: CHRISTIAN MCCAFFEREY-ELIJAH MITCHELL-KYLE JUSZCZYK
SEA: KENNETH WALKER-ZACH CHARBONNET-DEEJAY DALLAS
TBB: RACHAAD WHITE-CHASE EDMONDS-KESHAWN VAUGHN
TEN: DERRICK HENRY-TYJAE SPEARS-HASSAN HASKINS
WAS: BRIAN ROBINSON-ANTONIO GIBSON-CHRIS RODRIGUEZ

NOTABLE FAs: ZEKE ELLIOTT-DALVIN COOK-LEONARD FOURNETTE-KAREEM HUNT

Bengals rank first in cap health for second year in a row: The Bengals have done well to add talent in the draft as mega contract extensions loom for their top players.
Cap Health
— RANK: 1
Cincinnati remains atop our list for the second year in a row, which is not an easy accomplishment. But the major financial changes on the horizon are evidenced by the Bengals ranking 25th in 2024 free agent valuation. The number is largely carried by wide receiver Tee Higgins and interior defender D.J. Reader, but decisions on fifth-year option tackle Jonah Williams and pending free agents in cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and wide receiver Tyler Boyd are all coming soon.
Fortunately, the Bengals have done a great job of adding talent in the draft that can be expected to take over top roles, which will help to balance out the monster deal coming for quarterback Joe Burrow and whoever else remains.

Offseason Grade: A
Cincinnati securing the services of Orlando Brown Jr. at tackle was both unexpected and excellent opportunistic work. Brown has five straight seasons with a PFF pass-blocking grade of at least 74.4 and helps further solidify the Bengals' offensive line. Cody Ford adds depth to the group, as well, while the gamble that Irv Smith Jr. can remain healthy is an excellent buy-low gamble.
Their draft was an excellent one also, with Myles Murphy bringing elite tools and flashes of play at an area of the draft where that skill set is typically gone. Cornerback D.J. Turner, safety Jordan Battle, receiver Charlie Jones and running back Chase Brown all future-proof areas of the roster without needing to be pressed into full-time roles right away.

https://youtu.be/FAJj2rsDhUI

OL Rankings

17. CINCINNATI BENGALS (UP 11)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Orlando Brown Jr.
LG Cordell Volson
C Ted Karras
RG Alex Cappa
RT Jonah Williams – Played LT in 2022

Orlando Brown Jr. has the potential to propel this offensive line forward after the team already did some nice work to improve the unit last offseason. He has an overall PFF grade of at least 68.6 in every season of his career.
Jonah Williams had a rough year at left tackle but can rebuild his reputation in a contract year on the right side.
Best Player: Orlando Brown Jr.

Orlando Brown Jr. has earned at least a 74.4 PFF pass-blocking grade in every season of his career, spanning multiple offenses and positions.

Cincinnati breakout player:

CINCINNATI BENGALS: CB CAM TAYLOR-BRITT

Taylor-Britt was thrust into action following Chidobe Awuzie’s injury in 2022, and he did not disappoint. He ranked 59th among cornerbacks in PFF grade as a rookie but improved as the season progressed. From Week 12 on — including the postseason — he earned a 74.8 PFF grade, which tied for 19th best among 96 cornerbacks with at least 100 snaps over that span

. PFF Interior Defender Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2023 NFL season
9. D.J. READER, CINCINNATI BENGALS

Reader plays a vital role in Lou Anarumo's defense, highlighted by his 85.2 PFF grade in 2022. As a run defender, he has earned grades of 69.0 or better since 2017. He produced a career-high 84.1 PFF pass-rush grade in 2022, registering 32 pressures from 310 pass-rushing snaps.

Top Centers Heading in 2023
9. TED KARRAS, CINCINNATI BENGALS

Part of the ongoing rebuild of the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line, Karras made a big impact in his first season in the Queen City. Over the past four seasons, he has produced 65.0-plus PFF grades in every season, and his 76.1 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2022 was the fourth-best at the position

Most Underrated player on the Bengals:
CINCINNATI BENGALS: LB GERMAINE PRATT

2022 PFF Grade: 78.4
Out of 54 linebackers who saw at least 600 snaps last season, Pratt ranked 11th in terms of overall grade. Pratt especially excelled in coverage, where his 87.3 grade ranked third among linebackers and the 71.7 percent completion percentage he allowed into his coverage ranked sixth-best