07-18-2023, 05:57 PM
(07-18-2023, 11:29 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: What’s your take here? He gave up money but kept the same degree of security? Reflect if you will please
From Mixon's POV? He likely gained both money & security. I do not really consider a team option being signed (from the player's perspective).
Under the original deal, he was due $12.7 mil this year, but he only had $5.5 mil guaranteed (his $5,500,000 dead cap number). Next year, there was a team option for $13.1 mil, with a dead cap/guarantee of $2.75 mil.
There was no way we were picking up that option for next year. None. I have no idea what the FOs thinking was this year, if they would have cut him & paid Cook/Elliot instead. I kind of doubt it. Paying Cook $7 mil and eating $5.5 mil on Joe is $12.5 mil, you atent saving much/anything. And Cook turned down $7 mil, so it may take more.
Mixon's best case was $12.7 mil this year, + $2.75 next. Roughly $15.5 mil. Depending what he could get on the open market. But Hunt, & Ekeker, & Elliot, & Cook are evidence it would not have been a ton.
Now? He has $8,460,000 in the bag this year, and likely $8.5 mil next. $17 mil. And he gets to play for a contender, doesn't have to move, etc. And stays where he is happy.
I think the money is about a wash even if we were willing to keep him at full salary this year. If we weren't? Then he is definitely making out better. No way he gets 2/$17 after the year he just had. And now he gets a chance to bounce back and make more money for his next contract in a good situation.
Again, cannot say for sure, but I think it is likely (or possible) that he ends up doing better money wise than he would have over the next two years. Or at least it is a wash. Plus, less hassle. He gets to play for a contender. And improves his chances of earning a better contract in 2 years (he'll be 29).
The Bengals save some $$ and don't have a gaping hole to fill at RB1 for at least two years. By then we should know more about Brown, Evans, and if Mixon can bounce back.
We can focus on the trenches and DBs the next couple years in terms of draft capital (assuming Jones/Iosivas hit). Maybe that $$ is enough to keep Boyd or Chido an extra year.
