Steelers' Division Foe Could Be Losing Key Player Soon; Potentially Opening Up The Loaded AFC North

Another Pittsburgh Steelers division foe may be losing another key player. The Baltimore Ravens were expected to lose superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson, but that situation remains in limbo. Now, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, back-to-back reigning AFC North champions, the Cincinnati Bengals may be losing a key offensive player soon. 

That would be running back Joe Mixon, who has started 78 total games for them in his six seasons in the league. Mixon has been at the center of the news once again this offseason for all of the wrong reasons. After a road-rage incident back in January, it came out in early-April that he would face a misdemeanor charge for the incident. According to Dehner's report, who is a senior writer for the team, the Bengals are asking the running back to take a pay cut. 

How much would Mixon's departure help the Steelers?

If Mixon doesn’t agree to it, they will simply release him. Mixon has just two years remaining on his original four-year, $48 million contract extension from 2020. Cincinnati would be able to save just over $7 million by cutting ties with the star running back. General Manager Duke Tobin has been transparent about Mixon's unclear future in Cincinnati. It would leave the Bengals’ running game in an interesting position though, particularly at this point in the offseason. 

If the situation was resolved soon enough, they could perhaps turn their attention toward the running back class in the 2023 NFL Draft. As of now, Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans are the only other running backs on Cincinnati’s roster. They have combined for 64 career carries and 315 yards, not necessarily enough to take over starting roles. Versatile backup Samaje Perine left the team in free agency, as he signed a deal with the Denver Broncos.

Ezekiel Elliott was linked to the Bengals a few months ago as well, as he listed them as one of his preferred destinations. It seems as if that connection may have just been one-sided though, but the three-time Pro Bowler remains a free agent and would be a solid temporary option if Cincinnati were to indeed move on from Mixon. How does this all relate to the Steelers? 

Well, releasing Mixon would obviously help the Steelers, as he has been a big part of the Bengals’ success the past few years. While this will hurt the Bengals’ running game, they will still remain the favorite in the AFC North. One thing is clear though: the Steelers have closed that gap this offseason so far. The Bengals front office is likely looking ahead to the future, as they will have to pay their superstar trio of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins relatively soon. 

As the division has seemingly weakened a bit this offseason, the Steelers have taken a step forward. Now, fans expect nothing less than a trip to the playoffs, at minimum. A victory in the postseason would be nice too, which Pittsburgh hasn't seen since 2016. 

How big of a loss would Mixon be for the Bengals? How much have the Steelers closed the gap on the rest of the division this offseason? What are your expectations for the black and gold in 2023? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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