Cincinnati Bengals: Final 53-man roster cut predictions for 2018
By Kenn Korb
Running Backs
* = starters; + = make roster
+Giovani Bernard, +Tra Carson, Quinton Flowers, Brian Hill, *Joe Mixon, +Mark Walton, Jarveon Williams
The position is at a much different space than they were entering 2017. Last year, the team had a three-headed monster of a depth chart entering the year, but it imploded on them quickly as the team went 0-3 to open the year and never recovered on their way to missing the playoffs with the NFL’s worst offense in terms of yardage.
This year, while two of that combusted hydra are still in place, the order and feel are much different.
Mixon enters as the definitive top back, and while he’s struggled on the ground in the preseason, his multi-faceted talents and the way he ended last season (last four games: 4.8 yards per carry) give hope he’s ready to become the player the team risked taking with a 2017 second-round pick despite his off-field problems.
Alongside him will be Bernard, who should be better than we saw last year due to his 2016 ACL tear now being two years in the rearview. His skill-set could even allow the team to experiment with using both players on the same plays to keep a defense on their heels.
The competition is really happening behind those two, however. Carson and Hill have been in a really close battle of differing styles to earn roster spots as tailbacks, and both have done enough to have credible claims. Carson brings power running that is lacking elsewhere in the depth chart and he has been consistent all preseason (14 carries, 72 yards, one touchdown across the first three preseason games).
Hill has a skill-set which aligns with what the offense already could do with Mixon or Bernard (increasing the interchangeability options when gameplanning), and has shown a penchant for big plays (at least one in each of the first three preseason contests). Either would be a good choice for the final roster.
Going off the offseason work, they probably both should make it. Unfortunately, there’s a problem named Walton standing in the way. Both Carson and Hill have massively outplayed Walton in every way to this point. It isn’t simply that they’ve been better though; rather, it is how bad Walton has been.
Over the first three preseason games, he had 13 carries for a grand total of two yards. He averaged under that total in his best performance (seven carries, 13 yards vs. Chicago) before somehow picking up negative yardage in both of his following showings (-9 against Dallas, -2 against Buffalo). Walton does have something working in his favor, however: his draft status.
Drafted in the fourth round this year, he was essentially a lock for the roster the moment his name was called. Walton was considered the steal of the draft by some, and his player comps matched him up to Bernard — marking him as a likely option to replace his new teammate long-term. Teams in general don’t cut players drafted that high so soon, and Cincinnati (a team which especially values their own draft picks) even moreso. Combine those factors, and it is hard to think Walton is gone even with all the factors working against him.
Assuming he makes it, it’s down to Carson and Hill for one spot. Hill’s playmaking is intriguing, but with Carson’s power bringing a different skill into the running back huddle than anything currently there, it’s tough to think the team won’t decide he is the choice.