Over the offseason, the Houston Texans made several splashy acquisitions, adding veterans Joe Mixon, Stefon Diggs, and Danielle Hunter. It was the first time in NFL history that a team added a 1,000-yard rusher, a 1,000-yard receiver, and a 10-sack defender in the same offseason.
What did the Texans give up for Mixon, and why were the Cincinnati Bengals willing to move on from the star running back? Let’s revisit this trade and how it has worked out for both sides.
Joe Mixon Trade Details
On March 13, the Bengals traded Mixon to the Texans, ending the veteran RB’s seven-year run with the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
While Houston landed Mixon, Cincinnati received the No. 224 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, which became safety Daijahn Anthony out of Ole Miss.
Mixon was entering the final year of his contract, which was a driving force behind the deal. The Bengals had other pending free agents that they had to pay, so Mixon was the odd man out. If Cincinnati couldn’t trade Mixon, he was going to get released.
The Texans reportedly made offers to Saquon Barkley (who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles) and their own running back Devin Singletary (who opted to join the New York Giants). They also had conversations with D’Andre Swift and Tony Pollard, who signed with the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans, respectively.
Following the trade, Houston extended Mixon with a three-year, $25 million deal that keeps him in Texas through the 2026 season.
Who Won the Mixon Trade?
As of now, the trade is looking really solid for the Texans, but these teams had very different goals in this deal. The Bengals were going to cut Mixon for cap reasons, so they just wanted to get back whatever they could for the aging RB.
Anthony, the seventh-round pick, made the Bengals’ roster and has appeared in seven games, but he has only recorded one tackle and one pass defensed.
To replace Mixon, Cincinnati has used a combination of free agent addition Zack Moss and sophomore Chase Brown. Through eight games, Brown and Moss have combined for 601 rushing yards and six touchdowns while also contributing 248 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air.
One thing is certain: reports of Mixon’s demise were greatly exaggerated. The 28-year-old has looked excellent for the Texans. Aside from missing three games due to a high ankle sprain caused by an illegal hip-drop tackle, Mixon has been extremely productive.
Spectacular run for touchdown by Joe Mixon. pic.twitter.com/5yzGfKD4Dd
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) October 27, 2024
In the five games Mixon has appeared in, he’s rushed for 503 yards and five touchdowns on 4.9 yards per attempt while also catching 14 passes for 115 yards and a score.
To put Mixon’s production in fantasy football terms, he is currently the overall RB1, averaging 22.4 fantasy points per game.
It’s understandable that the Bengals felt they had to move on from Mixon due to his contract, especially since they had other pending free agents that they were prioritizing. But they are currently 3-5 and averaging just 89.8 rushing yards per game (fifth-worst in the NFL).
Meanwhile, Mixon is looking great, and the Texans are 6-2. After injuries to wide receivers Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs (among others), Houston has leaned on Mixon heavily, and he is playing a huge role in their recent success. Mixon has three straight 100-yard games and scored five touchdowns in those contests.
Houston has to be feeling pretty good about how this trade has turned out.