Hunter, Mixon land in Houston
The Houston Texans added significantly to both sides of the ball Tuesday, adding Vikings edge rusher Danielle Hunter on a two-year deal and trading for Bengals running back Joe Mixon.
Hunter, considered the top defensive player on the free-agent market, will get $49 million in Houston. He had a career-best 16½ sacks last season for Minnesota, and reached double digits in sacks five times in eight years.
Hunter will play opposite AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson on Houston’s defensive line.
The Texans are sending an undisclosed draft pick to the Bengals for Mixon, who ran for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
■ Ravens: Former Titans star Derrick Henry has agreed to join Baltimore in a blockbuster signing that instantly upgrades the Ravens’ backfield. The deal is for two years and $16 million, including $9 million guaranteed, and could be worth up to $20 million.
Henry, 30, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection, including this past season. He led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2019 and 2020 and was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in the latter. He became just the eighth running back in league history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season during his All-pro 2020 campaign, and has 9,502 career rushing yards.
His addition gives the Ravens one of the sport’s most dynamic backfields with Henry lining up alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who also holds the NFL single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,206) and whose 5,258 career rushing yards rank fourth all time.
■ Steelers: Pittsburgh has traded recalcitrant wide receiver Diontae Johnson to Carolina in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson. The Steelers received a sixth-round draft choice from the Panthers, while Carolina received a seventh-round pick in return. The move came hours after Pittsburgh signed linebacker Patrick Queen away from rival Baltimore. He will get a three-year, $41 million deal.
■ Vikiings: Minnesota has its bridge quarterback for the post-kirk Cousins era, adding Sam Darnold on a one-year, $10 million deal.
■ Falcons: Atlanta and wide receiver Darnell Mooney have agreed on a three-year, $39 million contract with $26 million guaranteed.
■ Rams: Cornerback Darious Williams is returning to Los Angeles after two seasons in Jacksonville, with a three-year deal for $22.5 million.
■ Browns: Cleveland agreed to a one-year deal with Jameis Winston that’s worth up to $8.7 million to be Deshaun Watson’s backup. The team did not offer a contract to Joe Flacco, who led the Browns to the playoffs filling in for Watson.
■ Chiefs: Kansas City and Irv
Smith Jr. agreed on a one-year deal to make the tight end the primary backup to Travis Kelce.
■ Dolphins: Miami added linebacker help, agreeing with veteran Shaquil Barrett on a one-year contract worth up to $9 million.
The Dolphins also picked up safety Jordan Poyer.
■ Commanders: Washington is bringing in veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota on a one-year deal.
■ Eagles: Cornerback C. J. Gardner-johnson is heading back to the Philadelphia after one year in Detroit. The Eagles are also adding wide receiver Devante Parker.
■ Bears: Chicago and tight end Gerald Everett have agreed to a twoyear, $12 million contract.