Shockingly, the Houston Texans cut 2017 third-down pick, D’Onta Foreman. The consensus reason being a lack of pass-protecting talent, coming off of a torn Achilles, and an unproven work ethic.
In cutting Foreman, Houston is down to one proven running back; Lamar Miller. However, there are a few ways they can replace Foreman without skipping a beat.
1. Free agency
No, Le’Veon Bell nor Tevin Coleman are available, but there are still a few attractive free agents out there for the Texans’ picking. Free-agent backs available include Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blunt, Corey Grant, and a handful of career backups.
The most enticing name on the market is Ajayi. Though coming off of a torn ACL, he’s healthy and has an impressive past to boot. The 26-year-old has a Pro-Bowl (2016) and Super Bowl win to his name and rushed for 1,272 yards in 2016 alone. He’s a 6-foot power back, and wouldn’t mind playing on the Texans.
Ajayi told Anthony Woods in an exclusive Texans Wire interview: “And right now, looking for a team, that’s [the Texans] a great team with a lot of great talent. So, that would be an interesting thing if I was able to come back and play on a Texas team where my parents and family can easily come and support at any time.”
Behind Ajayi, the free agency market is rather devoid of young, potentially starting caliber, talents. Blount offers power in goalline circumstances, while Grant, a slippery back, is the exact opposite without consistent pro production to his name.
2. The trade market
The trade market has been a popular option to replace Foreman for Texans Twitter, but let’s halt the brakes on that.
Los Angeles Chargers’ Melvin Gordon is clearly the best back available in a trade. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler, has three straight 1,375+ scrimmage yards to his name, and at 26 years old, has some time to grow. But, don’t expect the Texans to make a trade for him.
Gordon is looking for a massive contract extension worth over $10 million per year, which the Chargers aren’t willing to pay him, as of late. The Texans, considering their passiveness in Jadeveon Clowney extension talks, probably aren’t the answer to give him a Todd Gurley-esque contract.
If the Texans aren’t willing to pay a valuable position, why would they pay for an invaluable one?
Another back circulating around the trade market is Cleveland Browns third-down ace, Duke Johnson. Through his career, he’s tallied 1,286 yards, good for 4.3 yards per rush, and five touchdowns on the ground. As a pass-catcher, Johnson career totals feature 2,170 yards on 235 receptions, an average of 9.2 yards per catch, with eight touchdowns.
Amid the signing of Kareem Hunt, Johnson wants out of Cleveland, but the team hasn’t been keen in doing so as Hunt faces an eight-game suspension. Many project Johnson to get traded after Hunt comes back off of suspension, meaning a possible trade for Johnson won’t happen until the trade deadline.
3. Their backups
The Texans don’t feature many household names behind Lamar Miller, but the hope is that one of their under-the-radar or undrafted backs become that. Upon re-assessing the position, Houston boasts a trio of unheralded backs with intriguing talents.
Damarae Crockett is chief among them. An undrafted rookie out of Missouri, the 5-foot-11, 225-pound Crockett recorded 2,252 yards and 19 touchdowns on a 5.9 average in three seasons of college ball play. At Missouri, Crockett proved to be an excellent all-around back, as he boasts a 98.6 pass-block efficiency grade and .84 yards per route run in the NCAA ranks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Crockett already has a fan in Bill O’Brien, as the coach told the media, “He runs hard. He runs hard. He’s a great kid. He works hard on special teams, he’s quiet and he’s got a good attitude. I’ve seen some good things.”
Karan Higdon, another undrafted back, is a name worthy of consideration. Previously, he made the cut in Texans Wire’s 53-man roster projection. In a span of two seasons at Michigan, Higdon compiled 2,172 yards and 21 touchdowns. A 5-9, 206-pound power back, he also has speed to boot (4.49 40-time).
As The Draft Network’s Kyle Crabbs described the back, “Higdon will bring explosiveness to an NFL backfield. He projects most favorably to a gap/power rushing offense, as many of his chunk plays at the college level came behind such concepts. Higdon shows some nice patience pressing through the LOS and his second level acceleration will enable him to create gashes in the defense.”
Lastly comes yet another undrafted prospect; Josh Ferguson, undrafted out of Illinois in 2016. Much isn’t known about Ferguson, he’s spending his second stint with the Texans, and, has impressed so far. In both OTAs and training camp, Ferguson has shown a mastery of the art that is the pass-catching back.
O’Brien on Ferguson during last Sunday’s press-conference; “He gives great effort. He’s a really good guy. He’s really working hard out there. So, he did a good job yesterday.” An explosive athlete (4.48 40-time, 34-inch vertical, 120-inch broad jump) with more NFL receptions than rushes to his name (23 to 16), expect Ferguson to make the roster in a pass-catching capacity.
Behind Crockett, Higdon, and Ferguson are special-teamers Buddy Howell and Taiwan Jones. Howell spent 2018 as a special team back and didn’t rush the ball once. Jones, a free agent addition, has seen the bulk of his NFL experience as a return man; as he’s done so since 2011. One of the two may make the roster as a special teamer if Crockett, Higdon, or Ferguson don’t impress in that area.
In all likelihood, the Texans probably won’t make a flashy trade or signing to fix their running back room. While the talent behind Miller isn’t recognizable to most, there certainly are bright spots to each of their games. Considering the Texans are a homegrown team, O’Brien and Co. will likely opt to develop in-house talent before anything else.
