The Kansas City Chiefs will likely aim to overhaul their running back room when NFL free agency begins next week. General manager Brett Veach basically said as much in his press conference during the NFL combine, leaving time to tell how the Chiefs will address their backfield.
While adding a young stud to the backfield should remain a priority, Kansas City needs to add multiple bodies to the room, and a veteran presence like newly released Joe Mixon from the Houston Texans could prove to be a valuable signing as the Chiefs' new RB2.
"Mixon requested his release Thursday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. A day later, the Texans granted it, releasing him with a non-football injury designation.DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
It saves Houston $8 million in cap space."
Chiefs Could Be Intrigued by Joe Mixon's Sudden Availability
Mixon was one of the odder players throughout the 2025 season. It’s because he did not play a snap of football due to a lingering foot/ankle injury that has since been surgically repaired earlier this year. Details on Mixon’s overall health remain a question mark, especially as he enters his age-30 season.
However, if truly healthy, Mixon would not be asked to lead the backfield in snaps or carries, but rather fill the role Kareem Hunt has filled over the past two seasons. Provide the Chiefs with efficient short-yardage conversions, protect the football, and pass-protect for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
At 6’1” 220 lbs, Mixon is nearly the size of a linebacker with great vision (much like Hunt), excellent footwork, pass-catching chops, and above-average tackle-breaking ability. Even at his older age, the talent is still there as it always has been. He's stayed relatively healthy throughout his career, barring this past season, and has produced results every time he’s been on the field.
Mixon has five career 1,000-yard rushing seasons, an incredibly consistent four-plus yards-per-carry average, and has a nose for the end zone with 74 career touchdowns. Adding that kind of production to a room with second-year back Brashard Smith and literally nobody else gives the Chiefs at least a floor to stand on at the position.
Adding another free agent like Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, or even Jeremiyah Love in the 2026 NFL draft would provide the Chiefs with a ceiling.
While some may balk at age and health concerns, which I admit are certainly legitimate questions worth asking, Mixon’s addition would be dirt cheap at around a one-year, $2.5 million prove-it deal.
The name value of Joe Mixon may mean more than the current player, but the Chiefs should at least inquire about his health before making any rash decisions at the position. Mixon, providing a strong presence alongside a star lead back, with Smith as a change-of-pace gadget, would improve the Chiefs' biggest weakness.