This 49ers-Bengals Trade for Joe Mixon Would Give San Francisco the Feature Back They Need

There are a handful of running backs around the NFL looking for a fresh contract extension this offseason, and it became clear this week that Cincinnati Bengals bell-cow Joe Mixon is one of them.

However, the latest buzz indicates that Mixon is prepared to holdout if he and the Bengals can't reach an agreement. Therefore, it's fair to assume that the 23-year-old star could become the subject of trade talks in the near future.

The San Francisco 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan's run-heavy offense come to mind as an ideal trade partner.

As much as Shanhan loves having an array of options in his backfield -- Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert, and Matt Breida round out his trio -- finding a reliable No. 1 option would make San Fran's high-powered offense even more unstoppable.

Mixon, who's amassed over 1,100 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons for the lowly Bengals, would surely flourish with the 49ers. The former Oklahoma Sooner will bank $1.2 million in the final year of his rookie contract in 2020. San Francisco wouldn't be required to extend him, but with $11.87 million in cap space, the team could easily do so if it were to restructure some contracts.

That's what makes the fit so palpable. On top of it all, the 49ers, thanks to the current market for RB's, could likely acquire for nothing more than a 2021 third-round draft pick. Unfortunately, the 49ers don't own a third rounder in this year's showcase.

After landing a much-needed featured back in Mixon, the 49ers could subsequently cash in on two of those three aforementioned speedsters. The Bengals, on the other hand, would land a valuable pick in a draft they project to select a franchise quarterback in Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall selection.