With their championship window open, should the Texans eye Kareem Hunt? Can this veteran back provide crucial depth and power to their 2026 title aspirations?
As the 2026 NFL offseason kicks off, the Houston Texans find themselves at a crossroads. After a 12–5 season that ended in a frustrating Divisional Round loss against New England, the roster's flaws were exposed, none more so than a rushing attack that vanished when it mattered most.
With Joe Mixon coming off a foot injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season and Nick Chubb entering the twilight of his career, the question isn’t if the Texans need backfield help, but who fits the bill. Let's take a look at Kareem Hunt, a savvy veteran who just finished a productive, if not flashy, stint in Kansas City.
Here is why Hunt to Houston isn't just a possibility, it might be a necessity.
The "Mixon Insurance" Policy
The Texans' 2025 season was a case study in "Best Laid Plans." They traded for Joe Mixon to be the engine of the offense, only to watch him suffer a season-ending foot injury before Training Camp even concluded. Houston was forced to lean on a rotating door of Nick Chubb and rookies.
While Hunt is 30, he has proven remarkably durable as a high-volume "plug-and-play" starter. In 2024 and 2025, he filled the void for Isiah Pacheco in Kansas City, totaling over 1,300 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns across two seasons. He is the ultimate safety net for a team that cannot afford to let C.J. Stroud drop back 50 times a game because the run game is non-existent.
A Master of the "Dirty Yards"
In 2025, the Texans' run blocking was, to put it bluntly, woeful. The team managed only 48 rushing yards in their playoff exit. Houston doesn't necessarily need a home-run hitter; they need someone who can turn a 1-yard loss into a 3-yard gain.
Hunt’s style is built for this. He remains one of the league’s best at:
Short-yardage conversions: He recorded 8 touchdowns on the ground in 2025, many of them in "must-have-it" situations.
Pass Protection: For a young superstar like Stroud, a running back who can identify a blitzing linebacker is worth his weight in gold.
Receiving Out of the Backfield: Hunt’s ability to act as a release valve (averaging roughly 8 yards per catch in 2025) would give the Texans' offense a dimension they lacked during their late-season slump.
The Financial Reality
The Texans are currently hovering around the salary cap limit for 2026. While they can restructure deals for stars like Danielle Hunter or Nico Collins to free up space, they won't be in the market for a "top-of-the-market" back like Saquon Barkley was years ago.
Hunt is a Tier 3/4 free agent at this stage of his career. He likely commands a one-year "prove it" deal or a modest multi-year contract with low guarantees. For a Houston front office trying to balance the books before C.J. Stroud’s inevitable mega-extension, Hunt represents a high-floor, low-risk investment.
A Free Agent To Consider
The Texans' championship window is officially open, but it will be slammed shut if they don't fix the interior line and the backfield. Relying on an aging Nick Chubb and a returning-from-injury Joe Mixon is a gamble that GM Nick Caserio shouldn't take.
Kareem Hunt isn't the fastest back on the market, nor the youngest. But he is a warrior who excels in the red zone and understands how to play winning football. If the Texans want to ensure that 2026 doesn't end with another 48-yard rushing performance in the playoffs, Hunt should be one of their first phone calls in March.