Major Issues In The AFC North As Steelers Watch Browns And Bengals Potentially Lose Great RBs

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell short of their goal of making it to the playoffs, and ultimately the Super Bowl in 2022. As a result, they have plenty of their own work to do to get the team up to snuff for 2023. However, not all help comes in the way of free agency signings or draft picks. Sometimes the help comes out of the choices made by other teams and players. 

The AFC North has been in turmoil this offseason with rumors surrounding the Baltimore Ravens and their quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson is at the end of his rookie contract and expects (and deserves) to be paid commensurate with other top-tier QB's in the league. Now the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals have joined the rumor mill with their own issues. 

The Steelers May Benefit From Cleveland's Money Woes

The Browns are having to tighten their purse strings and reassess which players they can afford to keep and which they can't. Now NFL insider, Marc Sessler, is saying they are considering trading their beloved running back, Nick Chubb, amongst others, to help save money:

Chubb, widely considered one of the best in the NFL, has been a workhorse for the Browns, but he is also an expensive one. He was drafted by the Browns in the second round in 2018. Since then, he has been named for four Pro Bowls. He finished 2022 third overall in the NFL with 1,525 rushing yards and tied for fifth place in the NFL with 12 touchdowns. Chubb is a $14.9 million cap hit in 2023 and there is speculation that if they are made the right offer, maybe a first-round draft pick, the Browns would be willing to let him go to clear up much-needed space. 

The Browns are currently about $13.2 million over their cap. A large part of their money is tied up in quarterback Deshaun Watson. Cleveland broke the bank in 2022 to be able to sign the controversial 27-year-old QB. 

While some Browns' insiders are stating that the team will not make any changes to their core squad, there are others who report the team is on the verge of a fire sale that includes Chubb, as well as their other running back, Kareem Hunt.   

Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Mixon Is Possibly in Legal Trouble

Now news is coming out of Cincinnati that their star running back, Joe Mixon is under investigation. The police responded to a shooting of a minor child at Mixon's house. The injury sustained was non-life threatening and it is unclear how Mixon is involved. 

The local police at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office told the media that they will continue to gather and review evidence as they conduct interviews. They refused to answer any further questions, but hope to have an update later this week. 

Mixon's people have declined to answer any questions nor have they made a statement. There have been no charges filed against Mixon or anyone else yet. 

Trouble is not new to Mixon. This closely follows a February 2022 incident where he was accused of waiving a gun in a woman's face, but the charges were later dropped. In addition, while in college at the University of Oklahoma, he was charged with misdemeanor assault. In 2016, a video was released showing Mixon punching a female student, fracturing several bones in her face.  

Mixon has been a star of the Bengals' offense for both of their Super Bowl runs, but he also comes with a hefty price tag. He is a $12.7 million cap hit. Now the Bengals will be deciding if keeping Mixon is worth the money and drama. 

What do you think about the Browns' situation? Do you think they will let Chubb and/or Hunt go? Do you think they should? How much can a team lose to accommodate one player and still be successful? What do you think about Mixon's situation (knowing he is innocent until proven guilty)? Click to comment below. 

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