One of the league’s premier offensive players will be looking for a home soon. What NFL teams will be giving running back Arian Foster a call?
It’s not often the all-time leading rusher in a team’s history is available on the open market.
But that’s the case these days when it comes to four-time Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster. He was released by the Houston Texans after seven seasons and franchise-best 6,472 yards on the ground.
Related Story: Houston Texans: Frontrunners in the AFC?
Injuries have been the main issue in recent years. He played in just four games this past season and his 2015 ended when he injured his Achilles in an October loss to Miami.
Foster has been on the mend ever since, but now it seems like he’s getting close to joining an NFL team. The former undrafted free agent would bring a lot to any team’s offense. With the Texans, he amassed 8,740 yards from scrimmage while scoring a combined 68 touchdowns in 76 regular-season contests.
“I probably need another month to get where I am, the person everyone is used to seeing,” said Foster to David Nuno of ABC13 Eyewitness News in Houston this week. “I can definitely play but I need another month to be where I want to be and be at that Pro Bowl level I can be at.”
It won’t be for a lack of trying. According to Nuno, the veteran performer has been working out with his brother Abdul and under the guidance of trainer Dose Kahn. The latter appears to be impressed with what he has observed so far.
“Mentally, spiritually, physically, it’s probably the best I have seen him,” Kahn told Nuno.
So who would be the running back’s biggest suitors? About two months ago, Adam H. Beasley reported that Foster visited with the Miami Dolphins. That would certainly be ironic considering his last game ended with that injury in South Florida. It was also be a plus for the Dolphins and new head coach Adam Gase. Miami finished 23rd in the league in rushing this past season and lost Lamar Miller to the Houston Texans in free agency, adding even more irony to the story.
The natural inclination would be to link the standout performer with some of the clubs that struggled to run the football in 2015. The Detroit Lions were dead last in the league in rushing this past season but they have second-year pro Ameer Abdullah, young Theo Riddick and added veteran Stevan Ridley.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
The San Diego Chargers, 31st in the NFL in rushing, are going to keep second-year running back Melvin Gordon busy this season.
The New England Patriots have signed and traded for a lot of veterans this offseason and went through their share of running backs in 2015. The Washington Redskins are banking on second-year performer Matt Jones and let Alfred Morris test free agency (and signed with the Dallas Cowboys).
What about the Indianapolis Colts, a team Foster exploited on more than one occasions during his days with the Texans? Could the Oakland Raiders bring in a little more veteran support for young Latavius Murray?
More nfl spin zone: Houston Texans: Good, Bad and More in 2016
Speculation is all well and good but the bottom line is that teams want to see what Foster is truly capable of this fall. We won’t know anything for more than a few weeks. But once the multi-talented running back returns to form, it could make for an interesting summertime auction.