Houston Texans running back Arian Foster will be 30 when next season rolls around and returning from a torn Achilles. The last time he played a full 16-game schedule was in 2012, as he has missed 23 games over the last three seasons. He will also be due $6.5 million next season and count $8.925 million against the salary cap. All of these are reasons why the Texans should, and probably will, move on from the veteran running back this offseason.
But if they do release Foster in the coming months, who will replace him in the starting lineup? Alfred Blue led the team in rushing this past season with 698 yards, but he's more suited to a complimentary role. It's possible that the Texans could look to the 2016 NFL draft for a potential replacement. Of all the running back prospects in this year's class, none are more highly valued than Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott.
"Arian Foster could be a cap casualty as he attempts to come back from a devastating injury, and Elliott can come in and provide a lot of what Foster has done so well - a complete back who gets downhill and offers a consistent weapon in the passing game with great hands," ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr. wrote in his Mock Draft 2.0. "Elliot is also an extraordinary blocker and a quarterback's best friend, whomever that QB is."
Elliot rushed for 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns on a 6.3 yards per carry average this season for the Buckeyes. He also caught 27 passes for 206 yards. At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, Elliott has amazing size for the position and could be a No. 1 back right away. In addition to Foster, Elliott has also been compared to Edgerrin James by NFL.com.
Running back may not be as valued of a position as it once was, but Elliott could be the ideal replacement for Foster should the Texans choose to go in that direction.
