Free-Agent Matchmaker Pairs Joe Mixon With Ravens, Kyle Van Noy With Steelers
Wilson’s different Ravens-centric free-agent match matched veteran working again Joe Mixon with Baltimore.
Mixon, who turns 30 in July, spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier than signing with the Houston Texans in 2024. He missed the whole 2025 season with a leg damage after back-to-back 1,000-yard-rushing seasons and a Pro Bowl nod.
“I love the idea of Joe Mixon going to the Baltimore Ravens, and in that way, you get a two-for-one,” Wilson mentioned. “Now Joe Mixon has battled injuries in recent years and he has not been himself, but if he can get healthy and use him at 30-40% clip of what he’s accustomed to being used when he was a feature back, and you pair him with what you have in Baltimore right now, where we’re going to see Derrick Henry just running over guys and wearing them out, and Joe Mixon coming in to clean up.
“He additionally has the flexibility to catch out of the backfield, which is one thing we do not see from this Ravens backfield because it’s presently constituted. So I really like the thought of a wholesome model of Joe Mixon becoming a member of this backfield in Baltimore, giving Lamar Jackson some assist, and perhaps you get 80% of what you had when he was in his prime, with the understanding that you just’re solely going to make use of him 15, 20, 25 snaps a sport.”
Mixon wearing purple would certainly be more aesthetically pleasing than Van Noy wearing black and gold, but a look at the Ravens’ depth chart at running back suggests Mixon would probably be a better fit for another team.
Justice Hill is trained as Henry’s backup, and Rasheen Ali and fifth-round rookie Adam Randall are expected to compete for the No. 3 spot. Hill, Ali, and Randall are all adept pass-catchers, by the way.
On a related note, former Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was asked at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday if there is one quarterback he hasn’t played with that he’d want to.
His answer was the Bengals’ Joe Burrow.
“I believe Joe is likely one of the greatest,” Burrow said. “I really like his sport, his toughness. He took his crew to a Super Bowl early in his profession, and I really feel like he can get again there with a little bit little bit of assist.”
