Houston faces a critical decision: invest heavily in free agency or draft a cornerstone running back to bolster their offense.
The Houston Texans have one of the more talented rosters in the NFL, but most of that talent resides on the defensive side of the ball. The roster's weaknesses are evident, and it is clear the franchise will have to do something to improve the offensive line and running game at some point during the 2026 offseason. Outside of the big men up front, the organization needs to find a running back. The big question is whether that position gets attacked in free agency or in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Houston has Woody Marks and Joe Mixon on the roster for the 2026 season, but there is a world in which Mixon gets cut for cap reasons. Marks did a decent job in his rookie season as the lead back, but he left a lot to be desired. Running back is a position the Texans are expected to look at in free agency, but options are slim, especially after Javonte Williams signed a new deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
There are some big-name running backs that are scheduled to hit the open market. This includes Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne Jr., and Breece Hall. These backs can still be franchise-tagged or strike a new deal with their respective franchises, but those are the high-end names that may be available in free agency in March. Other names to consider would be Kenneth Gainwell, Rico Dowdle, and Tyler Allgeier.
Given that the high-end names on the running back market would command a lot of money and Houston's cap situation, which currently sits near the bottom of the league, the draft might be the best time to address the running back position. The Texans also have a good amount of picks, including four selections in the top 69 picks. A prospect to look out for is Jadarian Price out of Notre Dame.
Price is a lesser-known name among most because he shared the backfield with Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame. He lived in the shadows of Love, who became a Heisman Finalist during the 2025 season. However, according to the chart above, Price made the most of the limited opportunities he received.
The running back is expected to be picked on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Texans are set up nicely to make that selection as they hold the 38th, 59th, and 69th overall picks on that day. Other names to look out for in this area of the event are Emmett Johnson out of Nebraska, or either of the running backs out of Penn State.