Joe Mixon, Austin Ekeler's Best Landing Spots After 2026 NFL Draft

With the 2026 NFL draft coming to a close, teams will look to free agency and the trade market to fill the remaining holes on their rosters.

For front offices searching for help at running back, veterans Joe Mixon and Austin Ekeler are still free agents.

While both players will be at least 30 years old at the start of the 2026 season, they could provide backfield depth for several teams.

Here's a look at potential landing sports for Mixon and Ekeler.

Joe Mixon

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Mixon rushed for 1,016 yards and earned his second career Pro Bowl nod in 2024, but didn't play during the 2025 season due to a foot injury before he was released by the Texans on March 6.

Multiple teams could still look to bring him in before training camp, though.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency, but selected Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the No. 32 overall pick in the draft.

Price will likely split carries with Zach Charbonnet once he returns from a torn ACL that he suffered in the divisional round of the playoffs, but Seattle's depth behind those two players is thin.

Mixon would bring plenty of playoff experience to the defending Super Bowl champions as a reserve option, with nine career postseason starts under his belt.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars also saw their top running back in 2025 depart in free agency, as Travis Etienne Jr. signed a four-year contract worth $52 million with the New Orleans Saints.

Bhayshul Tuten is in line to start for Jacksonville next season, but the team could pivot elsewhere if the 2025 fourth-round pick isn't able to make up for Etienne's absence.

Austin Ekeler

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

After amassing 733 all-purpose yards and helping the Commanders make an NFC Championship Game appearance during the 2024 season, Ekeler's 2025 campaign came to an end after just two games due to a torn Achilles.

While his outlook following the injury is uncertain, teams could still take a flier on him.

Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs sits squarely atop Green Bay's running back depth chart, but the possible addition of Ekeler could help reduce Jacobs' workload considering he's averaged 17.9 rush attempts per game over the past four seasons combined.

Ekeler may also establish himself as a target for Jordan Love in the Packers' passing attack, as he surpassed 400 receiving yards in six of his eight seasons prior to last year.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans weren't able to select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft despite reportedly showing interest in him, as he was acquired by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3.

Tennessee ended up taking Penn State running back Nick Singleton in the fifth round on Saturday, but that might not prevent the team from bringing in a veteran such as Ekeler alongside Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.