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Miami Dolphins: The Best Landing Place for Arian Foster?

By Russell S. Baxter

Oct 25, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) carries the ball past Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones (20) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 44-26. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) carries the ball past Miami Dolphins safety Reshad Jones (20) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 44-26. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Dolphins are beginning anew once again as they look to get back to the playoffs for the first time since ’08. Can running back Arian Foster stay healthy and be a key contributor to the club?

It seems that the time for free-agent running back Arian Foster has finally come.

The all-time leading rusher in the brief history of the Houston Texans was cut loose by the franchise this offseason after seven years and 6,472 yards on the ground. All told, Foster rolled up 8,740 yards from scrimmage and totaled 68 touchdowns in 76 regular-season outings.

Unfortunately, his 2015 campaign comprised of only four contests. In an October loss in South Florida, he injured his Achilles and has been on the mend over since.

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On Sunday evening, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the four-time Pro Bowler was scheduled to work out of the Dolphins on Monday. Foster was also slated to travel to Detroit to meet with the Lions later this week.

Jan 3, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) is tackled by New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) is tackled by New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Both teams could certainly use his services. Miami ranked 23rd in the NFL this past season in rushing yards per game. The Lions finished dead last in the league in the same category in 2015. Both clubs are banking on a pair of second-year players in Jay Ajayi and Ameer Abdullah, respectively.

But when it was all said and done, Foster is taking his talents to Miami courtesy of a one-year deal (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport).

It wraps up quite a bit of irony for not only the Dolphins but the Texans as well. Miami adds a very proven commodity (once he’s 100 percent healthy) and Foster will play on the field in which his 2015 season and career in Houston essentially ended. And let’s not forget that the Bill O’Brien’s team signed 25-year-old running back Lamar Miller away from the Dolphins to replace Foster.

Miami spent a lot of time this offseason looking to add more talent to their backfield. They signed Denver Broncos restricted free agent C.J. Anderson to an offer sheet which the defending Super Bowl champions eventually matched. They also entertained the thought of signing unrestricted free agent Chris Johnson, but the veteran runner wound up returning to the Arizona Cardinals.

The team did ink Isaiah Pead and brought back Daniel Thomas. Miami also used a third-round pick in April on Alabama’s Kenyan Drake. But Foster adds the dimension of not only a workhorse but is also an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield.

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Someone was going to take a chance on the seven-year pro and the Dolphins could certainly use the help at the position. But perhaps the biggest question that will be asked in the coming months is not how will Foster play but just how much he is able to.

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