NFL Rumors: Joe Mixon, Texans Agree to 3-Year, $27M Contract After Bengals Trade

Joe Mixon will not be a one-year rental player for the Houston Texans.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Thursday the running back signed a three-year contract extension with the AFC South team, which acquired him via trade from the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the contract is for $27 million and features $13 million guaranteed.

Mixon was previously scheduled to become a free agent after the upcoming season.

Houston needed to address the running back position this offseason after Devin Singletary agreed to a three-year deal with the New York Giants, and it did so by trading for a fellow AFC contender's top option.

Mixon spent the first seven years of his career on the Bengals after they selected him with a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

He was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and ran for more than 1,000 yards in four different seasons, including the 2023 one. He finished last year with 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground to go with 52 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver out of the backfield.

While there have long been concerns about the Oklahoma product's ability to extend plays since he has averaged just 4.1 yards per carry, his versatility as a pass-catcher makes him more valuable and allows him to contribute in various ways.

Mixon is also just 27 years old, so he should remain a key contributor for the Texans throughout the duration of this contract extension.

He joins a team that is coming off an AFC South title with a wide-open competitive window thanks to quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud was the Offensive Rookie of the Year and one of the best signal-callers in the league in 2023, and his rookie contract allows the front office to make additions like Mixon this offseason.

Playing in Stroud's offense should also give Mixon plenty of running lanes, as opposing defenses will not be able to stack the box against him because of the aerial attack.

The end result could be another season with more than 1,000 rushing yards, only this time in a new location.