The Cincinnati Bengals could be a team investing in the running back position earlier than most might expect during the 2023 NFL draft.
Those Bengals lost Samaje Perine to free agency and might not end up tied to Joe Mixon beyond the draft, barring a change in his contract status.
When it comes to prospects, the Bengals will want a scheme fit like Perine who is a capable receiver and pass blocker. That theme has Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano suggesting Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs’ best scheme fit in the NFL is with the Bengals:
Best scheme fit: Bengals. Gibbs lacks size, but he’s a versatile running back who can quickly become a quarterback’s best friend on the field. He’s a standout pass-catcher, and his skill set resembles what Austin Ekeler has done for the Chargers. With Samaje Perine now in Denver, Gibbs would form a strong backfield committee with Joe Mixon—if the Bengals don’t part with Mixon.
Gibbs, 5’11” and 200 pounds, ran for 926 yards and seven touchdowns last year on a 6.1 average and caught 44 passes for 444 yards and three more scores through the air.
A no-brainer of a fit in Cincinnati, Gibbs is largely the consensus No. 2 running back this year behind Bijan Robinson, which might just put him out of range for the Bengals in the second round.
Still, he’s a good example of what the team could elect to do at the position, so he’s especially one name to keep in mind in a potential trade-down scenario on draft day.
