The Cincinnati Bengals will plan to give running back Zack Moss a contract restructure this offseason, which may trigger a trade during the NFL Draft. According to reports, the Bengals are reworking the running back’s contract following a season-ending neck injury in 2024. It appears the team wants to keep him for at least one more year. However, his job could “seem” safe, but that could change very easily before the 2025 season since Moss is more of a liability, and if a team offers some draft capital for the running back, they will probably take it.
Originally selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the former Utah product finally made his rookie season debut in the postseason with the Buffalo Bills before being carted off with a brutal injury in the following matchup. Moss was a healthy scratch, but his impact on the team wasn’t anything special, so the team sent Moss to the Colts in 2022. He became the starting running back for Jonathan Taylor and maintained a prominent role for the Colts despite another injury during the 2023 campaign, but it wasn’t enough for him to stay on the roster. Moss joined the Bengals the following year and was named the starter, recording his first touchdown with the team in Week 1, but it didn’t last long as the team lost him in November due to his injury.
The running back might not have a role anymore on this roster, especially if the Bengals select a running back during the draft. With that, these three teams could roll the dice on Moss.
Bengals Zack Moss Contract Restructure Could Trigger Blockbuster Trade During NFL Draft – 3 Logical Fits
Possible Next Teams
Los Angeles Chargers
Last season, the Los Angeles Chargers were testing the waters with running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. They’re doing the same thing again this upcoming season after signing Najee Harris, and while it looks bright for head coach Jim Harbaugh, the team needs another running back to replace Edwards. Nobody loves running the football more than Harbaugh, so he could look to either draft or trade for a running back this week.
Harris is still an experiment for the Chargers, too, so since the team is doing that, they should take full advantage of all options on the table. Meanwhile, they have enough cap space to facilitate a trade, and Moss could be an efficient one. Moss has been slowing down, but he doesn’t need to be the best option to make an impact.
New Orleans Saints
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints will probably need to depend on the ground game to save their 2025 campaign. It’s already a chaotic offseason for the team as the Saints will be without an adequate quarterback for head coach Kellen Moore’s first year in this organization. Second-year Spencer Rattler has some type of promise, but nothing to bring a championship to the Saints. The team will need to find a capable replacement, either way, after releasing Jamaal Williams.
Moss isn’t going to single-handedly carry the backfield on its back, but it gives Alvin Kamara some breathing room.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers don’t need a new running back, but it might be safer than sorry for them to trade for one. After signing Rico Dowdle this free agency, the Panthers might have to test the waters to see who will be their new backup for the time being until Jonathan Brooks returns. Moss might not win against Dowdle, but it gives the Panthers a three-set of talent to push this offense for quarterback Bryce Young.
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