Brian Callahan On 2023 Running Back Class: 'It's Always Gonna Be What Complements Joe Mixon'

Cincinnati holds the 28th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Publish date:
Apr 21, 2023 12:31 PM EDT

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Cincinnati Bengals

CINCINNATI — Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan dove into the running back position with James Rapien and Jake Liscow on Locked On Bengals this week.

Callahan sounded confident that, as of now, the Bengals are drafting a running back to complement Joe Mixon.

"At this point it's it's always going to be what complements Mixon for us," Callahan said. "We have a runner, you know we have a first and second down style back. And so you try to find things that complement that, and that's going to be things in the passing game.

"That's going to be the protection role that's moderately played, and it still has the ability to spell that part of the first-second down game, when needed. So you really want more of an all-around back that's a little bit leaner in the past protection and pass game quite a bit because that's where we're light in our running back room makeup at this point."

The Bengals can release Mixon this offseason and save over $10 million in cap space that can get used for star player extensions. Still, he's a valuable member of the locker room that they don't want to cut without a viable backup plan.

Mixon and Jonah Williams are two of the most interesting players on the roster as the offseason rolls into draft week.

Check out Callahan's full thoughts on Mixon at the 20:50 mark in the video below:

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