Bengals agree with Joe Mixon on 4-year deal: Another star running back off 2021 free-agent market

The 2021 free-agent running back market was shaping up to be perhaps the best of all-time led by the Titans' Derrick Henry, Panthers' Christian McCaffrey and Bengals' Joe Mixon, but all three are now locked into long-term deals after Mixon and Cincinnati agreed on a four-year extension worth $48 million Tuesday. Mixon's rookie contract was set to expire after this season.

Mixon was the No. 48 overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Oklahoma and is still just 24. Mixon led the AFC in rushing with 1,168 yards in 2018, becoming the first Cincinnati player to lead the AFC in rushing since then-rookie Paul Robinson led the AFL in in 1968.

Last year, Mixon started a bit slow but finished with 1,137 yards, ninth in the NFL. He had 817 of those yards in the final eight games. None other than Patriots coach Bill Belichick called Mixon the best running back in the league after New England beat the Bengals 34-13 in Week 15 of 2019. Mixon rushed for 136 yards.

Mixon has joined Corey Dillon (six times), Cedric Benson (three), James Brooks (three) and Rudi Johnson (three) as the only Bengals ever to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark more than once in his career. Mixon is also solid as a receiver, catching 108 passes for 870 yards and four scores over his career. Somehow, he hasn't reached a Pro Bowl. At William Hill sportsbook, Mixon is +1200 on the moneyline odds to lead the NFL in rushing this year. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Mixon has 37 runs of at least 15 yards since 2018, first among all running backs. He is also the only running back in the NFL with 500+ carries and 0 fumbles since '18. Mixon wasn't officially "holding out" of camp but hadn't been participating lately due to migraines. There were hints that perhaps it was contract-related -- Mixon was at practice Tuesday, coincidentally.  

McCaffrey got a four-year, $64 million deal in April and Henry a four-year, $50 million extension in July. McCaffrey has been the NFL's best overall back the past two seasons when incorporating his receiving, while Henry is the reigning league rushing champion who has been historically good in the playoffs.

What this Mixon deal might do is spur two other members of the 2017 draft class eligible for extensions, the Vikings' Dalvin Cook and Saints' Alvin Kamara, to perhaps hold out or somehow force the issue with their teams. Kamara already might be holding out. Jacksonville's Leonard Fournette, McCaffrey and Cook were the only running backs to go ahead of Mixon in the 2017 draft.

The Packers' Aaron Jones, Broncos' Phillip Lindsay, Colts' Marlon Mack, Cardinals' Kenyan Drake and Falcons' Todd Gurley are other potential free-agent running backs this offseason.

Cincinnati is a 3-point home underdog Week 1 vs. the Los Angeles Chargers. 

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