We’ve got a surprise development for the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of the NFL Draft.

According to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo, the Bengals will keep running back Zack Moss following a contract restructure.

Moss, who was signed as a free agent by the Bengals in the 2024 offseason to replace Joe Mixon, gained 242 yards on 74 rushes and scored two touchdowns in eight games (six starts). He also caught 23 passes for 187 yards and a score. He’ll enter the 2025 season at 27 years of age (he turns 28 in December).

Ever since Moss suffered a season-ending neck injury last season, the assumption has been that he’d be a cap casualty at some point this offseason, especially after they brought back Samaje Perine. At the same time, Chase Brown established himself as the clear-cut RB1 and should remain such moving forward.

However, it appears Moss is set to compete for the RB2 role for the 2025 NFL season, and this likely ends any hope of spending a high draft pick on a running back. Moss was set to have a cap charge of $4,816,176, and the Bengals could have saved $3,316,176 by cutting him, according to Over The Cap.

#Bengals RB Zack Moss agreed to a reoworked final year of his contract to get guaranteed money and security in a deal done by his agents Jamal Tooson and Kate Ferrara.

Moss is recovering from a neck injury that cut last season short. Clearly the team is confident in his return. pic.twitter.com/0np3SAv6jH

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 21, 2025