One Surprise Cut the Cincinnati Bengals Could Still Make This Offseason

The Cincinnati Bengals should have a pretty entertaining offense in Zac Taylor's second season in charge, as rookie quarterback Joe Burrow will throw the ball to the likes of AJ Green and Tee Higgins while handing it off to Joe Mixon. That's not a bad way to live.

One longtime veteran who might not be around for the ride, however, is running back Giovani Bernard. Even though he signed a two-year extension in September, the Bengals could cut him this year and only lose $1.3 million in dead cap. And as of right now, it can't be ruled out.

Bernard saw his role really reduced in an offense that like to throw the ball and leaned on Joe Mixon more than his previous offensive coordinations ever did.

Bernard will become a bit redundant after Mixon signs the mega-deal that Cincinnati is expected to offer the talented running back, as he would be a pretty pricy backup running back. With 2019 draft picks Trayveon Williams and Rodney Anderson still hanging around for a much cheaper price, it makes sense from a financial and schematic standpoint to cut Bernard and roll with those two behind Mixon in 2020 and beyond.

Moving forward with Burrow as the quarterback and Taylor as the head coach means that a lot of dead weight from the Marvin Lewis era needs to be cut loose. Bernard is a fine back with a solid body of work in Cincinnati, but it doesn't make a ton of sense to pay him that much to be a No. 2 man.