NFL Rumors: Arian Foster Leaving Houston Texans For Miami Dolphins

NFL rumors are swirling around Arian Foster. After seven years with the Houston Texans, the veteran running back was finally released. The team wanted to go with a youth movement on offense. Foster is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, but the 29-year-old believes that he can still play in the National Football League. According to NFL, his career might continue with the Miami Dolphins. The two sides are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, and a possible contract signing could take place later on this summer.

Interestingly enough, the Miami Dolphins are looking for running back help because Lamar Miller left them in free agency and signed with the Houston Texans. The franchise was able to make the NFL Playoffs last season because their dominant defense compensated for their sub-par offense. Management wanted to provide more balance for the Texans by upgrading the offense. Miller joins former Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler in that attempted upgrade.

Right now, Jay Ajayi is on top of the depth chart for the running back position. A fifth round pick out of Boise State in the 2015 NFL Draft, he has just 187 career rushing yards. The Miami Dolphins have been praising Ajayi and saying that they are comfortable entering the season with the 22-year-old at the helm, but their actions seem to indicate otherwise. Management has been searching for other options.

The Miami Dolphins were hoping that CJ Anderson would become their new running back. They had an offer on the table, but the restricted free agent ended up sticking with the Denver Broncos when general manager John Elway unexpectedly matched the offer. After losing both Brock Osweiler and Peyton Manning, who retired from the NFL, the Broncos wanted some continuity on offense, so they kept Anderson around. The team will focus heavily on offense in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Once they lost out on CJ Anderson, the Miami Dolphins then turned their attention towards Chris Johnson, one of the few NFL players that have ever rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a season. The meeting went well, and the Dolphins really wanted Johnson to sign a contract. The former East Carolina Pirates star ended up taking less money to stay with the Arizona Cardinals, whom he feels gives him the best opportunity to play in a Super Bowl.

Since all of the top running backs in free agency have been signed, the Miami Dolphins now take a look at Arian Foster. The 6’1?, 230-pound running back is a bruiser. The physical style of play by Foster can help the Dolphins establish a physical identity of offense. New head coach Adam Gase loves to pass the ball, but he knows that the best thing is to avoid overexposing starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Durability has always been a concern with Arian Foster. That’s going to happen when you run the ball as hard as he does. Right now, reports are saying that the former Tennessee Volunteers star can pass a physical. He’s been jogging since January. However, he’s not quite ready for football activities, so Foster is going to wait until later on in the summer to make a decision.

Arian Foster is far from being an upgrade from Lamar Miller. That was a big loss in free agency, and the Miami Dolphins know that. However, you have to play with the cards that you are dealt. Foster can provide the Dolphins with a short term replacement while management looks for another running back in the upcoming NFL Draft. Foster can also act as a valuable mentor to Jay Ajayi, which will benefit the team in the long term.