Texans Must Sign Former 2nd-Rounder to Start April on Right Foot

It's tough to imagine that the first month of NFL free agency is almost officially in the books. The Houston Texans didn't hesitate to throw caution to the wind since the offseason began, handing out 15 contracts to new and returning players as of Sunday afternoon, according to Spotrac.

Even though the roster is already starting to look different compared to last year, there's plenty of time for more changes to arrive. Texans general manager Nick Caserio still has to address various pressing needs, including the lack of depth beyond Joe Mixon in the running back room.

Fortunately, the perfect free agent RB is still available to help the Texans start April on the right foot.

Texans Must Sign Free Agent RB Ameer Abdullah to Start April

It's safe to say that the Texans wouldn't mind another veteran presence in their RB room. Most of Dameon Pierce's 2024 production came with the starters sidelined in Week 18, whereas the likes of Dare Ogunbowale, J.J. Taylor, and British Brooks aren't exactly the most confidence-inspiring names.

That's why it makes sense for the Texans to try signing versatile playmaker Ameer Abdullah to begin April.

Abdullah, 31, is a 10-year veteran who's racked up 3,462 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns on 697 touches across 141 career games. Even though he's rarely been a starter throughout his NFL tenure, he's created a reputation of being a reliable backup runner, proven by his solid work with the Las Vegas Raiders since 2022.

Abdullah's pass-catching skills should make him an attractive option for the Texans.

The former 2015 second-rounder has caught 203-of-268 targets for 1,468 receiving yards (7.2 yards per catch) and 11 TDs, which includes posting a 40-261-3 stat line in 16 outings with the Raiders in 2024. For comparison, Mixon finished with fewer receptions (40) and TDs (1) than Abdullah despite playing 147 more offensive snaps.

Signing Abdullah would take pass-catching responsibilities off Mixon's plate, allowing the latter to focus on terrorizing opposing defensive lines. The Texans could also use Abdullah as a change-of-pace back whenever Mixon needs a breather.

Besides, signing the veteran RB wouldn't break the bank. Spotrac is projecting Abdullah's average annual market value to be around $1.8 million, which is a fair price for what he'd bring to Houston.

Depth wins championships, and the Texans would be wise to deepen their RB room if they want to win a third consecutive division title. Houston is currently FanDuel Sportsbook's favorite (+125) to win the AFC South in 2025.

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