One Of Free Agency's 'Worst Moves'? Outlet Questions Texans Joe Mixon Signing

The Houston Texans have made a huge splash in free agency, but one outlet is questioning one of their biggest moves.

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.

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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.

'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."

As for that criticism, it is also extremely nitpicky. 

Yes, the Texans do still have Dameon Pierce. However, Pierce is coming off of an extremely disappointing year, that saw him lose his starting job to Devin Singletary while averaging just 2.9 yards per carry on 145 rushes with only two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, an older Singletary averaged 4.2 yards per carry on 216 rushes, racking up 898 yards and four scores.

'Lifelong Impact!': Joe Mixon Says Goodbye To Bengals After Texans Trade

So looking at it from a Texans personnel perspective, perhaps the franchise realized that Pierce was not the long-term answer as a starter and that they needed to make a change sooner rather than later.

When looking even further down the line, that could mean that the Texans may still take a running back in the draft on Day 2 or Day 3, find a way to flip Pierce via trade, and give him a fresh start somewhere else. 

Or, perhaps the Texans believe the tandem of Mixon and Pierce will be a better fit than it was with Singletary. 

Either way, the Texans needed to make a splash at a position that was a major weak point in 2023. 

And by ostensibly swapping seventh-round picks with San Francisco, and making a Pro Bowl-caliber running back a mid-tier salary for the position, they were able to do just that.