How Houston Texans offense can level up using Mixon's unique skill set, offensive continuity
THE ARROW IS POINTING UP
14 March 2024
Joe Mixon will provide an immediate upgrade at running back. Composite Getty Image.
After the Houston Texans missed out on signing one of the top running backs in free agency on Monday, GM Nick Caserio got to work and made a trade for Bengals running back Joe Mixon. And all the Texans had to give up was a 7th round pick.
Mixon will play this year at 28-years old after spending 7 seasons with the Bengals. Mixon rushed for 1,034 yards in 2023, with 9 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 52 passes for 376 yards and 3 TDs last year.
Mixon has rushed for over 1,000 yards four times in his career.
After losing Devin Singletary to the Giants on Monday, the Texans knew they add to add another running back to the roster. Mixon will now join Dameon Pierce in Houston's backfield.
Many believed the Texans would make a big splash by signing Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs in free agency. But both backs agreed to huge deals on Monday. Jacobs signed a 4-year, $48 million deal with the Packers, and Barkley agreed to a 3-year, $37,750 million contract with the Eagles.
Instead, the Texans will pay Mixon, who is in the final year of his contract, $5.75 million in 2024.
What does he bring to the table?
Not only will Mixon improve the ground game, but he's also a great target out of the backfield. The graphic below indicates how Mixon will give the Texans a boost in the passing game.
Joe Mixon gained 376 receiving yards in 2023, including +131 receiving yards over expected, 4th-most among running backs.
Texans running backs gained +28 YAC over expected last season, 4th-fewest in the NFL.#WeAreTexans https://t.co/VtbqJ741eB pic.twitter.com/9lmR51MkUY
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 12, 2024
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss all the ways Mixon can help improve the Texans running game. Especially when CJ Stroud is under center and handing the ball off. That's when Mixon really excels. He's at his best when he's running right at the defense. Only three other teams run the ball from under center more than the Texans. So this trade makes a ton of sense on many levels.
Plus, we discuss how CJ Stroud will have all his top weapons back this season, with the team re-signing receiver Noah Brown and tight end Dalton Schultz.
How Texans receivers are built to break defenses (but not how you think)
May 21, 2025, 6:15 pm
The Houston Texans continue to build one of the NFL’s most intriguing wide receiver rooms — and according to Yahoo Sports analyst Matt Harmon, their new rookie additions bring more than just depth. Harmon offered insight into how the Texans might creatively deploy second-round pick Jayden Higgins and third-rounder Jaylin Noel, two players with contrasting skill sets who could carve out meaningful roles in Nick Caley's (formerly with the Rams) offense.
At first glance, Higgins fits the traditional mold of an outside receiver. At 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, he lined up mostly as an X receiver in college and looked the part physically. But Harmon suggests that Higgins might actually be a better fit as a power slot — a big-bodied interior option who can do damage against zone coverage, similar to how the Rams used Cooper Kupp in his prime.
That role makes sense in Houston. The Texans already have one of the league’s premier outside receivers in Nico Collins, and there’s no pressure to force Higgins into a role that doesn’t maximize his skill set. According to data from Reception Perception, Higgins struggled against tight coverage in college, finishing in just the 15th percentile in success rate versus man and 16th percentile versus press. Letting Higgins attack softer coverages from the slot could be the key to unlocking his full potential.
Still, Higgins might not even be the most impactful rookie receiver the Texans landed.
While Higgins came in with the size and profile of a prototypical NFL wideout, Noel quietly outproduced him in 2024 at Iowa State and was quite often more feared by opponents. Noel’s game is built around separation and quickness — and despite being under six feet tall, there's confidence that he can play both inside and outside at the pro level. His 74.1 percent success rate versus man coverage speaks to his advanced route-running, which could earn him early targets in Houston’s pass-heavy scheme.
With Collins, Christian Kirk, Higgins, and Noel, the Texans suddenly have a flexible, matchup-proof receiving group that can attack every level of the field. If C.J. Stroud takes another step in year three, this offense could become even more dangerous — with its rookie receivers helping push it over the top.
Be sure to check out the video below to watch Harmon's full breakdown of the Texans receivers, and much more!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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