The Houston Texans haven’t had their return on investment when it involves David Johnson.
Recently at the Toro Times it was written the Houston Texans should trade running back David Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens since they’ve lost J.K. Dobbins to injury, and as we all know, the Texans are fans of draft capital.
Since most likely David Johnson won’t be with the franchise for the long term, and the fact he’s never going to overcome being the main player received when Bill O’Brien traded away the second-best wide receiver in franchise history and at the time of the trade maybe the best wide receiver in the game — DeAndre Hopkins — it seems like it should be time to move on from Johnson.
The Texans can find a short-term veteran option at running back via free agency for the ’21 season, plus they already have Scottie Phillips, Rex Burkhead, Phillip Lindsay, and Mark Ingram II on the roster. Trading Johnson for a draft pick or two, then adding a free agent running back to replace him on the roster, could work.
In fact, there could be better running backs available via free agency that would work out better for the Texans than Johnson. Remember, Johnson hasn’t rushed for 1,000 yards in a season since 2016 with the Arizona Cardinals, and as stated before, he’s not the long-term answer at the position.
The closest David Johnson has been to that grand number was in 2018 when he had 940 yards on the ground. Last season, his first with the Houston Texans, Johnson totaled 691 yards and six rushing scores on 147 carries. He also caught 33 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games played.
Let’s take a closer look at three free agent running backs who could take over the roster spot of Johnson if the Texans were to trade him now or before the NFL trade deadline later this season.
3. Kerryon Johnson
Kerryon Johnson is a young player with a few years of playing in the NFL, and though he’s battled injuries this training camp with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia, he still has something to prove as a running back.
If he’s able to play — he was released with an injury settlement by the Eagles — and is recovered from a knee issue, the Texans of 2021 is the perfect team for him to have a one-year contract. The Houston Texans have signed many players to short-term deals this offseason, and in the past, and Kerryon Johnson has shown flashes of talent in the past with the Lions.
Having nearly 700 yards rushing as a rookie in ’18 and only being 24 years old there is a chance Kerryon Johnson isn’t finished being productive in the NFL. In his three-year career, the running back has 1,225 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in 34 games (16 starts), along with 61 receptions for 527 yards and three touchdowns.
The best is yet to come from Kerryon Johnson as he just needs an opportunity to recover from his injury and get chances on the field, and the Texans could be the perfect team to give him those opportunities.
2. Duke Johnson
The Houston Texans can look into their past and finally give running back Duke Johnson the opportunity he deserves, because when in Houston before he didn’t get the chance he deserved.
The Texans only rushed the ball with Duke Johnson 77 times, resulting in 235 yards, an average of just 3.1 yards per carry. Before last season, Johnson’s previous four seasons he averaged no less than 4.2 yards per carry, including 4.9 ypc with the Texans in ’19.
The number of carries the Texans gave him were close to his usual number of carries in other stops of his career, but something wasn’t the same when in Houston last season, and there were many reasons that could have happened.
When the Texans released Duke Johnson, it felt like a mistake. A reunion with the franchise would work because he has played well as an NFL player, and he wouldn’t be the player needed to take the heavy load, as that role would go to Scottie Phillips and Phillip Lindsay if the Texans were to trade David Johnson, then add Duke Johnson to the roster.
It is a long shot this would happen, but for future seasons this would work out well because Duke Johnson is 28 years old, the Texans would gain a draft pick for David Johnson, and the rebuild would continue with more carries to the rest of the running back roster.
1. Le’Veon Bell
Here is an interesting choice if the Houston Texans want a one-and-done running back, and his name is Le’Veon Bell. Are the best years of Bell behind him? Nobody knows for certain, but if the Texans do trade David Johnson, what player in free agency would benefit from a “prove it” type of contract more than Bell?
Bell might be off the free agent list soon as he has worked out for the Baltimore Ravens this week, but if the Texans have their future in the forefront of their decision-making they could trade Johnson, sign the veteran Bell and see what happens this season.
At one time Bell was one of the very best running backs in the NFL, but since he’s left the Pittsburgh Steelers he hasn’t been the player he once was. In a rotation of running backs, like the Texans are looking to have in ’21, Bell could fit into such a rotation.
Last season Bell played for the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs and was unhappy with how he was used in those offenses, so if he were to join the Houston Texans on a one-year contract, he’d have to realize that he’d have to share carries.
Again, it is doubtful he’d join the Texans because they aren’t a contender, but like with others he could join the roster, give some solid play to the team, then maybe get traded himself to a contender who could use him where the Texans could add even more draft capital for the ’22 NFL Draft.