SI.com: Bucs Should Be In The Mix For Joe Mixon
March 8th, 2026
Free agent RB Joe Mixon.
What’s with all the flashing red lights?
That’s what Joe saw envisioned after reading Eva Geitheim’s piece in SI.com where she picked the Bucs as a team that should be chasing free agent running back Joe Mixon. He was cut by Houston after the Texans acquired David Montgomery in a trade with the Lions last week.
The Bucs, Geitheim types, should be one of two teams all over Mixon’s agent when legal tampering begins tomorrow at noon.
RB Joe Mixon
Best fit: Steelers, BuccaneersRunning back Joe Mixon was officially released by the Texans after they acquired David Montgomery via trade earlier this week. Mixon missed the entirety of the 2025 season with a mysterious foot injury and will look to bounce back with a new team. Before his injury, the two-time Pro Bowler had consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Joe vividly remembers when an NFL general manager at the combine a decade ago told Joe of how overwhelming the data is on running backs pushing 30. That’s when they enter the danger zone of their careers. The physical toll just adds up.
(Yeah, yeah, Adrian Peterson. If only every running back were Adrian Peterson, he was an extreme outlier.)
The moves the Texans made last week seem to back up the intel Joe was told about years ago. Mixon, who will be 30 in July, missed all of the 2025 season with a foot injury of some sort. That’s why Joe sees all the flashing red lights with Mixon.
Nothing like paying high dollar for a free agent running back with a bum wheel!
At the combine, Joe asked Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” if running back is a need. Licht, in a wonderfully sarcastic tone, replied, “Well, I’m sure not going into training camp with just two running backs.”
Joe is spooked by Bucky Irving. Great, great rookie season. But as always, defensive coordinators are paid, too. Even when Bucky was healthy last season (he wasn’t much), he was not the Bucs’ best back last year.
So yeah, Joe thinks the Bucs adding to the running back room would be wise. And from Licht’s own words, bank on new faces in that room.
Joe doubts one of those fresh faces will be Mixon.
March 8th, 2026 at 12:07 am
theres a low chance at this point that Joe Mixon is even better than Sean Tucker so this is a hard pass for me
March 8th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Oh God no, he’s done. But as far as price goes, I can’t imagine anyone gives him more than a few million a year, if he even gets that. Last year wasn’t just being injured, it was the ‘mystery’ injury where he was going to be back soon, and never returned, despite desperately needing him.
No idea why people are panicking on Bucky. Just watch the tape. He didn’t forget how to play, he didn’t look slow, he wasn’t missing holes – the holes weren’t there due to missing half the offensive line (or more) for the parts of year he was healthy. Bucky is a star.
For a 2nd RB, the only thing I’d want is a vet who can block. Ideally they’d just resign White, but he really wants out best I can tell – but I’d love to see them bring him back since that gives you someone who can block, catch, and start if needed. Otherwise running backs are a dime a dozen, if they get run blocking, if they’re not in an ultra predictable scheme, most NFL RBs can look good.
March 8th, 2026 at 12:29 am
pepsi…the cola sucks compared to Coke….but no to Mixon I agree.
Didn’t Mixon like straight up clock some chick in the face during high school?
March 8th, 2026 at 12:31 am
On video so I guess it’s true.
March 8th, 2026 at 1:01 am
Absolutely no on Mixon…
His legs are shot.
Tyler Algiere would be a great compliment to Bucky
March 8th, 2026 at 1:44 am
They should be in the mix for quite of few FAs now but they probably won’t be like usual. There’s no reason they shouldn’t go out & do anything now because there’s a decent amount of FAs out there that could help them.
March 8th, 2026 at 3:03 am
This roster is lacking in off-field issues. They are a bunch of of puddy-tats. Let Licht redefine “I am that man” all he wants- he drafted a team of pudding snacks and is reaping his rewards but this team has no edge or fight beyond Mayfield.
I’d like to see another guy with Mayfield level issues, except he got away from the police with a nifty juke followed-up with a stiff arm (looking at you Zion Young.) Add some Devin Bush perhaps- he is a kitty litter kicker on social media and cra-cray ex-girlfriend phone smasher but it all disappeared once it came to court. I respect(not really) decency and that whole role-model thing Charles Barkley shot to spit but supplicant sycophants don’t win big games. Learn Licht. I don’t want Joe Mixon level spit though.
Bringing in a guy like Pac-Man Jones who could teach Benjamin Morrison that you tear that vision board of yours up just so so you can roll this… might not be a bad thing. The Glazers are overcompensating for the Rah years. Absolutely no Mixon though, c’mon. I have character thresholds but they aren’t the church-mouse sensibilities of Licht.
I don’t want these guys to baby sit my children. I want them to win a Super Bowl. Bucky was a good start with dipping the toes into guys with questionable personal lives but don’t let whatever mess happened with him dissuade the team from bringing in complicated personalities- Francis.