According to a source who spoke with TexansDaily.com, the Houston Texans are focusing on Joe Mixon, who was just released by the Cincinnati Bengals, after losing out on former Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley on Monday during the NFL free agency competition.
The Texans lost their starting running back from the previous campaign when Devin Singletary signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract with the Giants amid the chaos of opening-day transactions.
How close to Saquon Barkley were the Texans ?
Amid all of this, Houston reportedly thinks it made a “nearly-winning” pitch for Saquon, who has a close friendship with Texans “recruiting assistant” C.J. Stroud. How close is “almost”?
The Texans reportedly offered $33 million over three years, which was a perfectly reasonable amount. However, the Philadelphia Eagles outbid the native of the Philadelphia area with a three-year offer of $37.75 million, which included a $26 million fully guaranteed and a $46.75 million maximum opportunity.
The Texans had a limit to their potential, and Philadelphia went above and beyond it. Zach Moss, a free agency runner for the Indianapolis Colts, was apparently also of interest to the Texans. However, Moss moved to Cincinnati following Mixon’s release, thus the musical chairs game continues.
In New York, Singletary is taking Barkley’s place. In Cincinnati, Moss is taking Mixon’s place. The two most prominent members of the board, Derrick Henry and Aaron Jones, are joined by Mixon, who may assume Barkley’s seat in Houston.