Infamously known as the Houston Texans-Arizona Cardinals trade prize that sent off DeAndre Hopkins, David Johnson has had a rough time in town.
A trade that’s still burning Houston Texans fans like the Centralia, PA underground coal fires, David Johnson was brought over in that trade. Johnson had burst onto the NFL scene in 2015 as a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals out of Northern Iowa, scoring eight rushing touchdowns as a rookie.
In 2016, he had his career year– posting over 1,200 rushing yards and setting a Cardinals franchise record with 16 rushing touchdowns and four scores through the air. But, sadly, Johnson’s career would basically be over after breaking his wrist in the 2017 season opener on the road against the Detroit Lions.
So when Johnson was traded to Houston after years of doing basically nothing, the rage was justified. In the two years he’s been in Houston, Johson has racked up 919 yards and six rushing touchdowns- all of those rushing scores coming in 2020.
Johnson’s only touchdown this year was a receiving touchdown in Week 1 against the Jaguars. Johnson ranked 87th of all players who had a rushing attempt this year, with only 228 yards. To put that into perspective, Sam Darnold had 222 yards, and Cam Newton had 230. That’s the company Johnson is keeping here.
What would the pros and cons be of keeping Johnson on the roster?
The Pros and Cons of the Houston Texans keeping David Johnson for another year
Pros
It’s hard to find many reasons to keep Johnson for another season. The only thing keeping him around is he’s the team’s best receiving back. But, of course, that’s not saying much when he has 593 yards and three receiving scores in two years with the team.
Cons
Running backs don’t always get the big yards receivers, and that’s recognized here. The problem is that the Houston Texans’ offense was so run-heavy last year that they kept five running backs on the roster and got rid of Mark Ingram and Philip Lindsay last year.
Until the team makes the decision on who their next head coach and offensive coordinator are going to be, it’s hard to see Johnson coming back. But maybe another team will use him as a third-down back and come in on passing plays.
So will Texans fans be able to see him back next year?
What should the Houston Texans do with David Johnson?
This is an easy answer, and it’s to let Johnson walk. It’s not Johnson’s fault that he was the one trade for Hopkins. It’s also not his fault for having to do the best he could with a terrible team all around him for his Texans tenure.
Fans of the Texans would love for nothing more than to see the physical reminder of that horrific trade made in 2020.
Kenneth Walker III from Michigan State is a runner that’s gotten a lot of attention from many NFL teams. However, there is no team he would impact more than the Texans, who were dead last in rushing in 2021.
There are also more effective players at the position in free agency, and regardless of which one is your personal favorite, they’re still a better fit than Johnson was for Houston. Ronald Jones II, Sony Michel, and Marlon Mack are three quick names that would be more dynamic than Johnson in this offense.
If there could be even a slight improvement in the running game, it would help take pressure from Davis Mills, and his life as a second-year passer would be much easier.