One Of Free Agency’s ‘Worst Moves’? Outlet Questions Texans Joe Mixon Signing.

The Houston Texans are turning themselves into a true contender this offseason, making multiple big-time moves in free agency last week. One of the biggest moves they made, however, was via trade, when they agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to acquire running back Joe Mixon in exchange for a seventh-round pick.

The Texans then went on to sign Mixon to a three-year, $27 million extension, with $13 million guaranteed, filling one of their biggest needs, with one of the NFL’s very best backs – all while paying him less than 13 other players at the position. However, according to The 33rd Team, the move was anything but a slam dunk.

Why? According to the outlet, it was because the Texans apparently could have found better and cheaper options without sacrificing draft capital.

GET ACCESS SKIP TO CONTENT LOG IN SUBSCRIBE NOW Part of the McClatchy Media Network LOCAL NEWS BUSINESS TRIANGLE NOW POLITICS SPORTS LIVING JOBS/RECRUITING BETTING OBITUARIES SHOPPING FOOTBALL One Of Free Agency’s ‘Worst Moves’? Outlet Questions Texans Joe Mixon Signing BY MATT GALATZAN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED HOUSTON TEXANS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND MORE UPDATED MARCH 17, 2024 1:24 PM The Houston Texans are turning themselves into a true contender this offseason, making multiple big-time moves in free agency last week. One of the biggest moves they made, however, was via trade, when they agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to acquire running back Joe Mixon in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The Texans then went on to sign Mixon to a three-year, $27 million extension, with $13 million guaranteed, filling one of their biggest needs, with one of the NFL’s very best backs – all while paying him less than 13 other players at the position. However, according to The 33rd Team, the move was anything but a slam dunk. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Why? According to the outlet, it was because the Texans apparently could have found better and cheaper options without sacrificing draft capital. “One of the biggest head-scratching moves of the week was the Houston Texans trading (Mixon) after it came out the Bengals planned on releasing him,” The 33rd Team wrote. “Houston had a hole at running back after losing Devin Singletary to the New York Giants earlier in the week, but the decision to trade and pay Mixon the 12th-highest running back contract heading into age 28 was an interesting one to say the least

Most importantly, the Texans had already lost out on their top running back target, Saquon Barkley. Devin Singletary was also gone, and other top names like Josh Jacobs, D’Andre Swift, Derrick Henry Tony Pollard, and Austin Ekeler were also on their way elsewhere.

GET ACCESS SKIP TO CONTENT LOG IN SUBSCRIBE NOW Part of the McClatchy Media Network LOCAL NEWS BUSINESS TRIANGLE NOW POLITICS SPORTS LIVING JOBS/RECRUITING BETTING OBITUARIES SHOPPING FOOTBALL One Of Free Agency’s ‘Worst Moves’? Outlet Questions Texans Joe Mixon Signing BY MATT GALATZAN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED HOUSTON TEXANS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND MORE UPDATED MARCH 17, 2024 1:24 PM The Houston Texans are turning themselves into a true contender this offseason, making multiple big-time moves in free agency last week. One of the biggest moves they made, however, was via trade, when they agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to acquire running back Joe Mixon in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The Texans then went on to sign Mixon to a three-year, $27 million extension, with $13 million guaranteed, filling one of their biggest needs, with one of the NFL’s very best backs – all while paying him less than 13 other players at the position. However, according to The 33rd Team, the move was anything but a slam dunk. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Why? According to the outlet, it was because the Texans apparently could have found better and cheaper options without sacrificing draft capital. “One of the biggest head-scratching moves of the week was the Houston Texans trading (Mixon) after it came out the Bengals planned on releasing him,” The 33rd Team wrote. “Houston had a hole at running back after losing Devin Singletary to the New York Giants earlier in the week, but the decision to trade and pay Mixon the 12th-highest running back contract heading into age 28 was an interesting one to say the least.” On paper, sure, the idea of sending a pick away for a player who was about to be released could be considered questionable. That said, The 33rd Team seems to have not taken multiple factors into account in this criticism. Most importantly, the Texans had already lost out on their top running back target, Saquon Barkley. Devin Singletary was also gone, and other top names like Josh Jacobs, D’Andre Swift, Derrick Henry Tony Pollard, and Austin Ekeler were also on their way elsewhere. And though the Bengals were about to release Mixon, that would have allowed other teams to make a play for the standout back. Related: ‘Hell of a Feeling!’ Joe Mixon Signs Three-Year Extension With Texans In other words, the Texans needed to make sure they got their guy. And by offering up an ostensibly meaningless seventh-round pick, they guaranteed that. Houston also added a seventh-rounder back with the trade of Maliek Collins to the 49ers, canceling out that loss. Not only that but by paying Mixon just $13 million in guarantees, the Texans’ risk here is extremely low.

Get 93% off your first month. Subscribe today for $1. GET ACCESS SKIP TO CONTENT LOG IN SUBSCRIBE NOW Part of the McClatchy Media Network LOCAL NEWS BUSINESS TRIANGLE NOW POLITICS SPORTS LIVING JOBS/RECRUITING BETTING OBITUARIES SHOPPING FOOTBALL One Of Free Agency’s ‘Worst Moves’? Outlet Questions Texans Joe Mixon Signing BY MATT GALATZAN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED HOUSTON TEXANS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND MORE UPDATED MARCH 17, 2024 1:24 PM The Houston Texans are turning themselves into a true contender this offseason, making multiple big-time moves in free agency last week. One of the biggest moves they made, however, was via trade, when they agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to acquire running back Joe Mixon in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The Texans then went on to sign Mixon to a three-year, $27 million extension, with $13 million guaranteed, filling one of their biggest needs, with one of the NFL’s very best backs – all while paying him less than 13 other players at the position. However, according to The 33rd Team, the move was anything but a slam dunk. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Why? According to the outlet, it was because the Texans apparently could have found better and cheaper options without sacrificing draft capital. “One of the biggest head-scratching moves of the week was the Houston Texans trading (Mixon) after it came out the Bengals planned on releasing him,” The 33rd Team wrote. “Houston had a hole at running back after losing Devin Singletary to the New York Giants earlier in the week, but the decision to trade and pay Mixon the 12th-highest running back contract heading into age 28 was an interesting one to say the least.” On paper, sure, the idea of sending a pick away for a player who was about to be released could be considered questionable. That said, The 33rd Team seems to have not taken multiple factors into account in this criticism. Most importantly, the Texans had already lost out on their top running back target, Saquon Barkley. Devin Singletary was also gone, and other top names like Josh Jacobs, D’Andre Swift, Derrick Henry Tony Pollard, and Austin Ekeler were also on their way elsewhere. And though the Bengals were about to release Mixon, that would have allowed other teams to make a play for the standout back. Related: ‘Hell of a Feeling!’ Joe Mixon Signs Three-Year Extension With Texans In other words, the Texans needed to make sure they got their guy. And by offering up an ostensibly meaningless seventh-round pick, they guaranteed that. Houston also added a seventh-rounder back with the trade of Maliek Collins to the 49ers, canceling out that loss. Not only that but by paying Mixon just $13 million in guarantees, the Texans’ risk here is extremely low. Even then, however, The 33rd Team believes that instead of signing Mixon, the Texans should have pursued a ‘younger’ or ‘cheaper’ option via the draft on Day 2 or Day 3. “The Texans still have Dameon Pierce on the roster and with five picks in the first four rounds, it was easy to see them adding a rookie in with Pierce on Day 2 or with one of their fourth-round picks and rolling with that,” the outlet wrote. “The Texans have the money to spend, so this deal will not kill them by any means, but it feels like there were better, cheaper, and younger options available in free agency if they were set on adding a veteran this free agency period