Overview of the running backs
To move on to another position group, one obvious candidate to be cut is running back David Johnson. When fit, Johnson performed admirably this year averaging 4.6 yards per carry and finding the end zone seven times. But cutting Johnson could save Houston nearly $7 million in cap space. For a team that is currently above the cap, this seems like an obvious choice to make.
Another prime candidate to cut is Duke Johnson. Duke suffered mightily in 2020, only averaging a vapid 3.1 yards per carry. If Duke were to be cut, that would save the Houston Texans around $5 million towards next season’s cap. Cutting both Duke and David Johnson would wipe out approximately two-thirds of the debt the Texans are currently faced with.
With both Duke and David Johnson almost assuredly to be cut, there will be new faces introduced to Houston’s running back room next season.
The Houston Texans will most likely resort to the free agency market and/or the 2021 NFL Draft to find cheap labor at the running back position for the 2021 season.
This time last year, barely anyone had heard of James Robinson and he is coming off quite the season in Jacksonville. Good, young running backs are out there. Houston will need to find one.