Depending on who you talk to the Houston Texans might need a fresh face at running back.

Lead back Lamar Miller was named to the pro-bowl in 2018, but he rushed for less than 1,000 yards on the year, he is also a free-agent next season. Back up Alfred Blue did a solid job, but 3.3 yards per carry won’t cut it. Not to mention he is currently a free-agent. Former Texas Longhorns star D’Onta Foreman is coming off a torn Achilles, which is an injury that gives fans anything but confidence.

So what should the Texans do? There are certainly options in free agency. Former pro-bowlers Le’Veon Bell, Kareem Hunt, and Mark Ingram will get the brunt of the attention. But over-paying for a running back is always a looming threat. Therefore, the draft sounds like an enticing option. The 2019 draft is deep with running back talent (albeit without any sure-thing prospect), and the financial ease that a rookie contract gives is always nice. Therefore, below are ten options that I believe general manager Brian Gaine should consider.

Joshua Jacobs – Alabama

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 215 lbs

Strengths:

short area quickness to reel around the edge

flexible hips

very powerful, the first move is to drop shoulders and truck defenders to oblivion

explosive burst; can stop and go on a dime

has a feel for various blocking schemes, but best in a zone scheme

very patient; waits for his blocks to develop

can go from east-west running to north-south immediately

excellent balance stems from fantastic footwork

willing blocker out of the backfield; can diagnose blitzes and deliver clean blocks

takes violent cuts

underrated short-area juke move due to quick and nimble feet

huge frame

powerful lead blocker

“give up” isn’t in his vocabulary

has been utilized well in the receiving game, due to soft hands and good tracking abilities

Weaknesses:

long speed

low tackles often trip him up

some concentration drops on tape

injury concerns during his sophomore year

lacks production in college

Round projection: 1st-2nd round

David Montgomery – Iowa State

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 215 lbs

Strengths:

low center of gravity gives him excellent balance

initiates contact with tacklers; always seems to be in attack mode

a true bell-cow back; get’s better when the game goes on

polished pass protecting back

NFL ready build

can change direction quickly with hard cuts

patient runner behind the line of scrimmage

churns legs through tackles

can run east-west with good hip flexibility, but more of a downhill runner

soft hands show while catching

is versatile as a 3rd down back; has polished short routes to beat blitzes

sheds tackles with a mean, low pad-level truck

powerful stiff arm move

Weaknesses:

average burst and long speed

often bounces to the edge when first read is gone

takes short strides

too quick to panic

has some concentration drops on tape

Draft projection: 2nd-3rd round

Damien Harris – Alabama

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 215 lbs

Strengths:

knows how to find a gap and use it

anticipates where a block will be if something goes wrong

willing to attack the A-gaps

excellent balance stems from well-developed footwork

has a spicy initial foot-plant to change direction

powerful runner that strives off making contact

always seems to fall forward in short yardage situations

lets his block develop; then executes them with great vision

good ball control; keeps two hands on when making contact

smooth runner

Weaknesses:

limited burst

lateral quickness is subpar

doesn’t set himself well in pass protection

won’t be a receiving threat outside of the occasional screen or quick out

speed is average

Round projection: 2nd-3rd round

Devin Singletary – Florida Atlantic

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 200 lbs

Strengths:

jump-cut is nothing short of explosive

keeps his feet churning through contact

great body control and balance

very elusive in tight areas

change of direction is smooth

has outstanding vision; tends to make a play out of nothing either off the edge or up the A-gap

always aware of his surroundings

seems to have a plan with the ball; every time he runs he puts together a slew of moves

has shown an ability to be a good receiver out of the backfield, but rarely was told to do so in college

runs with a low center of gravity

doesn’t shy away from contact

tends to fall forward

willing pass protector

Weaknesses:

poor blocking form

lacks game-breaking speed and quickness

footwork could use improvement

Round projection: 2nd-3rd round

Darrell Henderson – Memphis

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 200 lbs

Strengths:

excellent vision outside of the tackles and in the open field

knows how to follow his blocks through the scrum

hasn’t seen a lot of wear and tear

balance lets him pinball through tackles

carries a low pad-level through contact

superb run after the catch skills on screens and quick out plays

slippery runner; has the lateral quickness to avoid any tackle

hard to tackle in close quarters; he is able to get thin and use his quick feet to avoid tackles

patient between the tackles

explosive burst and speed; has that ‘extra gear’ teams look for

isn’t a bruiser but he isn’t timid to put his head down and hit a defender

Weaknesses:

will not push a pile with power

lack of route running tape

leg drive is subpar

small stature

can’t be relied upon in pass protection

less of a bell-cow and more of a lead back in a committee

jumps around too much when running through the A-gap

Round projection: 3rd-4th round

Justice Hill – Oklahoma State

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 190 lbs

Strengths:

springy feet make for explosive lateral quickness

excellent spacial awareness

good vision when attacking lanes

exceptional route running skills

fluid hips

times his cuts well

runs on a balanced base with good body control

quick change of direction skills

uses his finesse to get himself out of tricky situations

can stop and start on a dime

has the ‘extra gear’ speed

good open field vision

textbook pass protector; makes good blocks despite his size

Weaknesses:

will not push a pile with leg drive

light frame

sometimes over-complicates plays that go wrong

inconsistent hands

needs to be more patient while letting blocks develop

Round projection: 3rd-4th round

James Williams – Washington State

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 195 lbs

Strengths:

outstanding receiving production; 202 catches in the last three seasons

vision after the catch is outstanding

ball tracking and body countering abilities of a wide receiver

should test well in the vertical drill at the combine

can help beat blitzes with a great understanding of a ‘block and release’

vision is best when operating under tight spaces

solid burst

absorbs hits well with good footwork and a quick-to-drop pad-level

good body control shows with elusiveness to hit most evading moves

good long speed

protects the ball with both hands

able to diagnose a blitz in pass protection

fearless in goal line situations

doesn’t mind blocking

is basically James White

Weaknesses:

won’t run anybody over with average lower body size

hesitant to run inside; often bounces outside

needs to hold his ground better in pass protection

maxed out frame; probably won’t be a bell-cow back

not a particularly ‘explosive’ athlete

Round projection: 4th-5th round

Rodney Anderson – Oklahoma

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 220 lbs

Strengths:

patient behind the line of scrimmage

vision shines when blocks develop

loose hips

very nimble; it shows when he changes direction laterally

good balance stems from loose hips and refined footwork

explosive jump-cut and lateral quickness

a natural receiver with soft hands

has played in multiple different concepts in college

NFL build and size

has a nice blend of power and finesse

keeps his feet churning through contact

good open field vision

explosive athlete with elite speed and quickness for his size

Weaknesses:

torn ACL in 2018

fractured vertebrae in 2016

broken leg in 2015

can be too jumpy behind the line of scrimmage

lack of willingness as a pass protector

carries a high pad-level due to a long torso

Round projection: 4th-5th round

Alexander Mattison – Boise State

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 215 lbs

Strengths:

former high school hurdler

developed frame

keeps legs moving through contact

good balance due to excellent core strength and body control

able to change direction on a dime

good vision, he tends to make good decisions behind the line of scrimmage

quick acceleration when running downhill

best when following lead blocks

lowers pad-level on contact

has a sense of where blocks will be and flow with them

loose hips

capable receiver

willing blocker in pass protection

embraces contact

Weaknesses:

average speed

needs to use his hands more in pass protection

lateral quickness and elusiveness are average

footwork can be improved upon

Round projection: 4th-5th round

Devine Ozigbo – Nebraska

Height: 6′

Weight: 230 lbs

Strengths:

good vision as he waits for blocks to develop

anticipates where blockers will be downfield

smooth feet

stop-and-go ability is unique for his size

uses his feet well to stay upright

carries his body well and knows when to lower pads

great frame for pass protection and uses it well

solid lateral quickness due to loose hips and active feet

the blend of power and elusiveness is above average

Weaknesses:

speed

weight concerns

inconsistent hands

doesn’t take explosive cuts

average burst

Round projection: 4th-6th round

-Avery Duncan

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