Report: Giovani Bernard, Bengals Agree to 2-Year, $10.3M Contract Extension

Running back Giovani Bernard reportedly agreed to a two-year, $10.3 million contract extension Tuesday.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the new contract will give Bernard a raise from $3.4 million to $5.9 million this season and lock him in through 2021. Bernard will also get a $600,000 guaranteed bonus in March.

The veteran running back had been set to enter the final year of his contract.

Bernard, 27, is entering his seventh NFL season, and all of them have been spent in Cincinnati. The Bengals selected Bernard in the second round of the 2013 draft after his standout collegiate career at North Carolina.

Despite making the second-most starts of his career last season with four, Bernard had his least productive campaign. In 12 games, he rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns, and he also caught 35 passes for 218 yards.

Bernard set career lows in carries, rushing yards, receptions, receiving yards and yards from scrimmage.

In each of his first three seasons, Bernard racked up at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage. He also caught 39 or more passes in each of his first five years.

Bernard took on a lesser role last season as Joe Mixon developed into an every-down back during his second year. In 14 games, Mixon registered 280 touches, including 43 receptions, for 1,464 yards.

Mixon is expected to be the bell cow once again in 2019, but since he has missed four games in his two seasons, it was important for the Bengals to have a capable back such as Bernard behind him to provide depth.

Rookie sixth-round pick Trayveon Williams may eventually become Mixon's primary backup, but Bernard occupies that role now, and even if he does get surpassed, he will retain value as a pass-catching back.