Saquon Barkley NFL free agency landing spots: Is he really a good fir for the Bengals?


Saquon Barkley NFL free agency landing spots: Is he really a good fir for the Bengals?

12 comments
  1. >[6. Cincinnati Bengals](https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/nfl/teams/cincinnati-bengals/327)

    >Fun hypothetical to consider, though it only becomes plausible if the Bengals cut Joe Mixon. Even then, that move would seem to be a precursor to the team curbing its spending at the position rather than revving it up. If Cincinnati is only certain to have Tee Higgins for one more season, though, might it be worth some significant push to make the plodding running game more dynamic? His addition, however implausible, would be quite the way to welcome Joe Burrow back from the torn wrist ligament that prematurely ended his 2023 season.

    Rumors are Mixon is gone. How much would Barkley cost? How good of a blocker is he? He is a damn good RB.

    RB’s don’t last, but Saquan seems like he has several good years left.

  2. I would love this and I have him high on my wish list. But it just comes down to how much he is going to command in this uncertain market. I would think anywhere from $8-12M, and Bengals should be interested if it’s the lower part of that range…

  3. He’s a better version of what I think they wanted Chris Evans to be. I think Chase Brown will be the reason they don’t consider him at all… but in my dream world, they would have cut Mixon last year, grabbed Zeke as a 3rd down back and had the cap space to sign someone like Barkley.

  4. He better be in the bargain bin. This team isn’t locking into an expensive and / or lengthy RB contract with the cap situation they’re facing.

    I’d prepare to see draft and / or no name vet signing in the backfield… And for the output to be pretty close to what a RB room that costs double would produce. 

    Teams in leagues with hard salary caps (NFL) have to play moneyball. It isn’t about whether player X is better or worse than player Y, it is about whether those millions buy more wins than investing elsewhere. RB historically hasn’t had bang for the team’s buck, which is always why the pricey RB contract is the first cap casualty when teams need to find some cash

  5. Save money on RB and go aggressively after Tyron Smith and then draft a rookie tackle in the first round for security and the future

  6. I think you pass on any expensive RB’s at this point. We can probably find a good back to pair with Chase Brown on day 3 of the draft or even a UDFA. I’m hoping they cut Mixon and use that money to help bring in a competent tackle or guard.

  7. I’m skeptical of getting Barkley. One of his main struggles last season was making people miss in space, which is Mixon’s problem as well. Saquon and Mixon are the same age and while Barkley has roughly 300 less carries than Mixon does, he has also suffered at least one major injury. One thing to account for is that NY had a miserable offensive line.

    It all depends on the price tag but I’m not immediately sold on him being a major upgrade over Mixon at this point.

  8. How much are you willing to spend on an injury prone RB that has struggled on the exact turf we just installed. I know that Metlife is likely an anomaly and not the standard, but Barkley is going to be expensive and he has only the one great year 6 years ago.

    I love watching him when he’s healthy, but I’d rather spend all that money literally anywhere else.

  9. I’m all for them leaning hard into the run game this year via oline, RBs, and TEs. I think we need to actively game-plan to throw less and try to win games without putting it all on Burrow, so he’s good to go when we need him.

  10. We have had the most elite players in “talent spots” yet our offense has still struggled yet everyone wants to keep dumping money into those spots… I don’t understand beyond wanting a certain player on your favorite team.

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