The Houston Texans have several players who are either already in or are coming up on the final year of their respective contracts, and Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon is arguably chief among them.
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Mixon landed first on the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander’s list of Texans players next up for a contract extension. Mixon is in Year 2 of a three-year, $25.5 million contract.
That is where Alexander highlighted a potential hurdle for Mixon landing an extension.
Alexander noted an “increased emphasis” on Mixon’s position as teams look to punish defenses taking away big plays with two-high coverage. Mixon’s production was “huge” for the Texans, as he was the franchise’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2019 (Carlos Hyde).
“He obviously still has a bit left in the tank and extending him a year could provide some good will,” Alexander wrote on May 26 before noting Mixon’s contract as a caveat. “He’s still one of the eight highest-paid running backs in the NFL. He’ll also be 30 by the end of his contract, which is the age running backs typically slow down.
“It’s not urgent, given he still ranks in the top eight and has two years left on his current deal. Next year is a different story.”
Mixon’s 1,016 yards marked his fourth time crossing the threshold, though they were the fewest of any instance.
He also rushed for 11 touchdowns, the second-most in his career.
Alexander speculated that the recent rash of veteran running backs receiving sizeable contracts could “prompt” Mixon to approach the Texans about his status. However, there are several hurdles standing in the way.
Injury History, Depth Could Prove Problematic for Joe Mixon
Mixon’s production is not likely to be the reason the Texans could put him on the back burner. Mixon’s 4.1 yards per carry were a step up from the season prior, with the Cincinnati Bengals, and he added another 309 yards on 36 receptions.
However, his injury history and his teammates, one new one in particular, stand as obstacles.
“The Texans may want to get younger at the position, which they have by adding running back Woody Marks in the draft. For the most part of his career, Mixon has been durable. But he missed three games this past season with an ankle injury, and was seen this offseason wearing a boot, which one source described as not serious.”
