RB positional spending 2021

[*ochocincos*]

The Bengals are currently paying the 5th most money to the RB position in 2021 - $14.5 mill. Most of this is from Mixon ($8.1 mill) and Bernard ($4.75 mill). Trayveon Williams and Jacques Patrick make up the remaining bit.

If the Bengals cut Bernard, they can save $4.1 mill, which would put them 8th most in the league.

Out of the Top 10 teams paying RBs in 2021, only the Titans, Saints, and Ravens made the playoffs this past year (30%).

On the flip side, out of the Bottom 10 teams paying RBs in 2021, the Packers, Bills, Steelers, Buccaneers, and Rams made the playoffs (50%). The Packers, Bills, and Steelers were in the Bottom 5.

So, with all of this information, should the Bengals become a more run-focused team in 2021 since they are paying so much to RBs?
I mean, if you're going to pay Mixon (and Bernard), you should probably have the running game be more of a focal point, right?
They brought in Pollack in a dual role of OL coach and running game coordinator. And we all know Mixon was a Top 5 RB in the league back in 2018 when Pollack was OL coach even though he had an OL of Glenn-Boling-Price-Redmond-Hart.

If they don't make the running game more of a focus in 2021, should the Bengals look to part ways with Mixon in 2022?
Moving on from him in 2022 would free up $3.2 mill in cap (along with $25.9 mill in 2022-2023). If moved on in 2023, $7.35 mill cap freed up (along with $13.05 mill in 2023). If moved on in 2023, $10.3 mill saved in cap.