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5 free agents the Houston Texans should avoid

By Avery Duncan

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles makes the hand offsides to Jay Ajayi #36 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter of Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles makes the hand offsides to Jay Ajayi #36 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter of Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 30: Jay Ajayi #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball while defended by Kendrick Lewis #28 of the Tennessee Titans in the third quarter at Nissan Stadium on Sept. 30, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 30: Jay Ajayi #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball while defended by Kendrick Lewis #28 of the Tennessee Titans in the third quarter at Nissan Stadium on Sept. 30, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Jay Ajayi, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

2018 stats: 4 games played (3 starts), 45 rushes, 184 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns, 5 receptions, 20 receiving yards, 1 fumble

Jay Ajayi has enjoyed a lot of success during his four-year career. Not only did he start and win Super Bowl 52, but he was also a 2016 Pro Bowl selection after finishing fourth in the NFL in rushing yards. To give him even more credit, Ajayi tore his ACL his first year of college which could have been a big set back at the start of his NFL career. Unfortunately, that plays a big reason as to why Ajayi finds himself on this list despite his ability to be a bell-cow back.

Ajayi tore his other ACL during Week 5 of the 2018 season, which isn’t a good sign considering his downhill running style. Although Ajayi could come back from injury well ala Adrian Peterson in 2012, and others as running backs tend to have a longer recovery time from torn ACL’s than others.

The Texans don’t have a glaring weakness at running back per se, but it’s also not their brightest spot. Adding a back that is dependent on a well built offensive line with an injury history could lead to disaster in Houston. Ajayi should be looking for security down the line in his next contract, something which I wouldn’t advise the Texans to do considering the crop of running backs with less of an injury history in this year’s crops of free agents.

Next. AAF Week 2: 5 Players the Texans should watch now. dark

Don’t get it twisted though, somehow adding Ajayi on a cheap prove it deal could be a good idea due to his low-risk, high-reward nature.

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