Bengals Offseason Outlook: RBs

Bengals columnist Paul Dehner Jr. begins previewing the status of every position as the team heads into the beginning of the new league year and free agency on March 10. Gain a deeper perspective of the coach's thoughts on personnel, the draft prospects, free agency as well as salary cap ramifications going forward.

Today looks at running backs.

Thursday, Feb. 26: Quarterbacks

CONTRACT STATUS

Under contract (2015 cap hit): Giovani Bernard (through 2016/$1,432,729), Jeremy Hill (through 2017/$555,413), Rex Burkhead (through 2016/$610,550), H-back Ryan Hewitt (through 2016/$513,333), James Wilder (through 2016/$435,000)

Unrestricted free agent: Cedric Peerman

2014 RB POSITIONAL SPENDING REPORT

Total: $3,654,864

Bengals Rank: 9 of 9

NFL Mean: $5,355,924

NFL Rank: 23rd

*numbers courtesy overthecap.com

SALARY CAP NUGGETS

Hard to imagine more production per dollar than the Bengals offered in 2014. Hill and Bernard became focal points of the offense, but the position ranked dead last on the team in cap hit since both are still on their second-round rookie contracts.

BEYOND 2015

The question at this position will be one discussed often as the NFL devalues the running back position. Should teams bother to drop expensive second contracts on running backs or just keep drafting young players and plugging them in under their cheap rookie deals? That won't come to a head for Cincinnati until following the 2016 season when Bernard's contract comes up. You can't be in a much better position at running back than the Bengals are right now.

ENCOURAGING NUMBER

5.6: Hard to look past Jeremy Hill's average per rush when allowed to carry the load. In seven games in which he carried at least 15 times his average rushing statistics were 22 carries for 123 yards (5.6 per carry) and one touchdown per game.

CONCERNING NUMBER

4.1: On the flip side, should injury force Bernard to carry the load that proved far from his strength last year. On top of durability issues (he missed three games) his efficiency suffered dramatically. In seven games with at least 14 rushes, his average statistics were 17 carries for 70 yards and 0.7 TDs. Bernard excelled once shifted into a more situational, receiving role late in the season.

FREE AGENCY OUTLOOK

The depth of the position makes this an area the Bengals will stay away from outside of attempting to re-sign Cedric Peerman for his special teams acumen. Rex Burkhead solidified his position as the third running back with his versatile playmaking in the first half of the playoff loss. Should Bernard go down, the Bengals have confidence Burkhead could adequately fill his position.

DRAFT OUTLOOK

Wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility the Bengals use a late-round flyer on a running back. So many teams find gems at this position in the late rounds and this draft is one of the deepest in recent years at the spot. If a talented back is available, thinking about three years down the road when Bernard hits his second contract wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility.

HOT TOPIC

Could Giovani Bernard return kicks? Bernard excelled as a returner at North Carolina and with Brandon Tate's days in Cincinnati likely over and more dependency on Adam Jones at corner, it could mean Bernard steps in on returns with a smaller running back role behind Hill. Don't count on it, though. He's still too valuable to what the Bengals do offensively and a blazing rookie wide receiver seems like the better fit. If the Bengals don't fill that void in the draft, the option might be explored in preseason.

COACHSPEAK

Running backs coach Kyle Caskey on the makeup of the running back room:

"Those two (Hill and Bernard) are so tight with each other. They are legit friends. They want the best for each other. They push each other. It doesn't matter who is in the game at the time, they are pulling for each other. There is no selfishness in this room. I didn't have one time a guy come to me and ask, 'Why am I not getting the ball? Why is he getting this? Why is he getting that?' They all said hey, when it's my time it will be my time and we will make the best of it."