A running back hasn't been selected in the first round of the NFL draft since 2012. That year, Trent Richardson was taken third overall. I think it's safe to say that his disappointing career has scared several teams away from ball carriers at the top of the draft.
But that trend could change this year, with Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and Georgia's Todd Gurley both available for the taking. Is it possible that the Houston Texans have interest in the latter rusher?
"Todd Gurley to the Texans?!" Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com wrote. "Don't they have Arian Foster? Sure, but Foster is usually banged up, and Todd Gurley, despite his injury, would be too good for Houston to pass up at No. 16. The Texans don't have a quarterback, and it doesn't look like they'll be able to get on this offseason, so they better make sure they can run the hell out of the ball. Foster is too injury-prone and unreliable, so having Gurley in the backfield to split the carries would solidify that aspect of Houston's offense."
Gurley was considered the top back in the nation before tearing his ACL upon his return from a four-game suspension this season. In six games this year, Gurley rushed for 911 yards (7.4 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. While selecting Gurley may be a bit of a luxury pick, Foster will be 29 when the season starts. Grooming a replacement now may not be the worst of ideas, though the Texans have an array of defensive needs.
Here's what ESPN NFL Draft Insider Todd McShay had to say about Gurley.
"Gurley's torn ACL will have an impact on his draft stock, and the progress he shows in his recovery and how he checks out with the medical staffs of the NFL teams will be determining factors in where he gets drafted. But this is a guy who was a potential top-20 pick before the injury, so there's still a chance a team drafting at the end of the first round could take him. If you're comfortable with investing that high of a pick in a running back, and you aren't worried about his long-term durability because of this injury or previous ones, you have the chance to hit the lottery with him - even late in the first round (although at this point I'd say he's more likely to wind up in the second round). He's a rare talent who has the potential to be an exceptional back at the next level - a hard, downhill runner who complements his tremendous power with breakaway speed."
Considering the pre-draft projections for Gurley and the fact that Foster has transformed from an undrafted free agent to one of the best backs in the NFL, perhaps it would be wise for the Texans to wait until after the first round to grab their RB of the future.
