For a rebuilding franchise such as the Houston Texans, acquiring the right pieces to mesh with an established young core is pivotal to contention. The franchise is undoubtedly well on its way with the flurry of moves made throughout the offseason.
While one can certainly argue that a high-octane 2023 NFL Draft period was the stamp of the offseason, there is always room for improvement. For the Houston Texans, figuring out the correct pieces to the puzzle is an ongoing quest among team personnel.
Here at Toro Times, we discussed the need for the Texans to add more depth to the running back room. While incumbent starter Dameon Pierce and former Buffalo Bills rusher Devin Singletary forming a solid duo in the backfield, additional depth is needed behind them in the event of an injury and to sustain a consistently aggressive rushing attack.
Recently released running back Dalvin Cook has been a name floating around the rumor mills but with his price tag and scheme fit in question, there is a legit debate as to whether or not he would be the right addition. With options around the free agent marking dwindling, could the Houston Texans look to a running back familiar with the lone star state?
Former Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott is a big name left in a small pool of free agents. CBS Sports listed the Houston Texans as a potential destination for the 27-year-old and he would provide the necessary depth that this running back room desperately needs.
That said, sometimes the game's biggest names aren’t always the greatest fits. Here are three reasons why the Houston Texans should be wary of signing the 2016 first-round pick.
Drastically declining production
Elliott’s 2022 season with the Dallas Cowboys might have been sufficient for fantasy football players but certainly not as a lead back in an NFL rushing attack. The 27-year-old not only produced career-worst marks but did so in complete freefall.
In 15 games played Elliott produced career lows in yards per attempt (3.8), total rushing yards (876), and rushing yards per game (58.4), according to Pro Football Reference. While Elliott produced 12 rushing touchdowns, he did so as primarily a red zone threat rather than the three-down back that we grew accustomed to over the years.
In other words, Elliott’s production no longer warrants serious merit for a considerable role out of a team’s backfield. To boot, most running back decline begins around the ages of 27 to 28 and with Elliott turning 28 in July, he finds himself on the wrong side of that timeline.
Additionally, for a rebuilding club such as the Houston Texans to have a chance at signing Elliott, they would almost certainly have to offer a role as a starter and a decent chunk of snaps out of the backfield. With emerging star Dameon Pierce leading the backfield, the Texans simply cannot afford to risk hindering his development to add a running back in decline.
Wouldn’t fit the team’s long-term plans
The most important factor to consider for any rebuilding franchise is how a new signee or draft pick fits into the fold long-term. In year two of a massive rebuild, the Houston Texans cannot afford to bring in the wrong personnel. Doing so has a significant risk to set the franchise back years.
This isn’t to say that taking a one-year flier on Ezekiel Elliott is a move that can make or break the Texans' entire rebuild, but based on age and production alone, the argument is certainly against Elliott being able to be a significant long-term asset.
With Dameon Pierce on his rookie contract and new running mate Devin Singletary on a one-year pact with no certainties of sticking around beyond 2023-2024, signing another running back on a short-term deal can be considered redundant. After all, for a young team, the key is to acquire talent that can grow and develop together rather than employ a constant rotation of personnel.
While it is important to note that running backs experience a high level of turnover among NFL position groups, there is still an importance for long-term sustainability at the position and establishing a rapport with the team’s offensive line.
Better options available on the market
Ezekiel Elliott is far from the only intriguing name left on the free agent market. While the quality of available backs has certainly decreased since the beginning of the offseason, there are still plenty of depth options available for grabs.
According to Spotrac, the best remaining options include established backs Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt, and Dalvin Cook. An argument can be made that former Washington Commanders running back J.D. McKissic can even serve as a better depth option because of his receiving prowess out of the backfield.
If the Houston Texans are going to add a third back behind their established two-headed horseman, they are going to need one with versatility. While Devin Singletary already provides the team with this flexibility, having multiple backs that can help diversify your offense is key to keeping a defense on its toes.
Each of the available aforementioned backs provides more value as a receiver out of the backfield than Elliott does at this stage. For a Texans offense that is focused on motion and aggressiveness, adding a do-it-all back would increase the chances of their effectiveness rather than relying on a 28-year-old Elliott finding his stride in the passing game in his eighth NFL season.