The Los Angeles Rams have done a massive overhaul of their roster this offseason. After years of trading away draft capital for veteran players, things finally caught up to the franchise. It led to a mass exodus of key players, whether it be signing elsewhere in free agency, trades or the team releasing players to save money.
It has led to a lot of unrecognizable players being atop the depth chart. But, it is a challenge that head coach Sean McVay is ready to face head-on. The Rams had the most draft picks in his tenure as coach, allowing them to fill out the depth on the roster.
While this may be seen as a reset year, there are still some veterans remaining, especially on the offensive side of the ball, that could help keep the team afloat. They will need to step up as the defense is basically Aaron Donald and a whole new supporting cast.
One area that Los Angeles is hoping to improve upon is the running game. The Rams finished 27th in rushing yards in 2022 as they were never able to get things going, putting immense pressure on Matthew Stafford.
If they want to find more success in 2023, finding a balance offensively is key. Making some changes to the running back room could lead to better results as well. Could veteran Joe Mixon of the Cincinnati Bengals be someone they look to add in the future?
According to Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, Mixon is a post-2023 NFL Draft trade candidate to keep an eye on. He listed the Rams as a potential landing spot for the 2017 second-round pick.
“Much like Ekeler and Cook, Mixon is likely already too expensive for his team to pay him again, and the organization may look to get cheaper and/or younger at the position. Bengals brass has been unsurprisingly vague about Mixon’s future with the team, and if he’s not traded, he may end up being a cap casualty at some point this summer. As far as which teams might need running backs, well, that’s a trickier question.”
Austin Ekeler and Dalvin Cook have both played at a much higher level than Mixon has in recent seasons. Ekeler is angling for a lucrative contract extension while Cook is already locked into his. Mixon is nearing the end of his deal, which could make him a more attractive target to some teams looking to add some experience to their backfield depth chart.
However, given the current state of the Rams, it is hard to imagine them parting ways with draft capital to bring on Mixon. This backfield should belong to Cam Akers to see what he can do as the lead back or they can turn to sixth-round pick Zach Evans of Ole Miss to see what he has got.
Bringing on Mixon and his contract, which runs through 2024, would not be best for business for the Rams. Likely not contending this season, they would be better off seeing what younger players can offer in expanded roles.
