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The Houston Texans have been one of the NFL's busiest teams over the past couple of offseasons, consistently looking for ways to strengthen a roster that has legitimate playoff aspirations. General Manager Nick Caserio has never been afraid to make aggressive moves if he believes they improve the team, but not everyone agrees with every decision Houston has made.
One move that continues to draw criticism from some is the acquisition of veteran running back David Montgomery. While the Texans clearly identified the backfield as an area that needed improvement, ESPN's Seth Walder believes they paid too much for a player approaching the stage of his career where running backs often begin to decline, "I was much less enthused by the Montgomery trade, in which the Texans gave up fourth- and seventh-round picks (plus OL Juice Scruggs as a throw-in). The team needed a running back to pair with Woody Marks, but considering Montgomery's age -- 29 is ancient in running back years -- this was an inefficient use of resources."
Walder's criticism centers less on Montgomery as a player and more on the value Houston surrendered to acquire him. Giving up multiple draft picks seemed risky to Walder, especially to acquire a player at a position where productive guys can often be found later in the draft or through less expensive free-agent signings.
The concern about Montgomery's age is understandable. Running backs tend to have shorter career peaks than most positions, and history has shown that many begin to lose explosiveness as they approach 30. If Montgomery's production starts to decline during his time in Houston, the trade will naturally face even more scrutiny.
At the same time, the Texans clearly valued what Montgomery brings beyond raw statistics. He has built a reputation as one of the league's toughest runners, consistently gaining difficult yards between the tackles while providing reliability in pass protection. Those qualities can be especially valuable for an offense looking to take pressure off quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Houston also isn't asking Montgomery to carry the offense by himself. Rookie Woody Marks is expected to have a meaningful role, giving Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley the flexibility to keep both backs fresh throughout the season. A shared workload could help maximize Montgomery's effectiveness while limiting the wear and tear that comes with being a featured back.
Whether the trade ultimately proves worthwhile will come down to production. If Montgomery helps stabilize the running game, protects Stroud, and plays a key role in another postseason run, few people in Houston will worry about the draft capital that was spent. Until then, the move will remain one of the Texans' most debated offseason decisions and an easy target for critics who believe the franchise overpaid for a veteran running back.
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One move that continues to draw criticism from some is the acquisition of veteran running back David Montgomery. While the Texans clearly identified the backfield as an area that needed improvement, ESPN's Seth Walder believes they paid too much for a player approaching the stage of his career where running backs often begin to decline, "I was much less enthused by the Montgomery trade, in which the Texans gave up fourth- and seventh-round picks (plus OL Juice Scruggs as a throw-in). The team needed a running back to pair with Woody Marks, but considering Montgomery's age -- 29 is ancient in running back years -- this was an inefficient use of resources."
Walder's criticism centers less on Montgomery as a player and more on the value Houston surrendered to acquire him. Giving up multiple draft picks seemed risky to Walder, especially to acquire a player at a position where productive guys can often be found later in the draft or through less expensive free-agent signings.
The concern about Montgomery's age is understandable. Running backs tend to have shorter career peaks than most positions, and history has shown that many begin to lose explosiveness as they approach 30. If Montgomery's production starts to decline during his time in Houston, the trade will naturally face even more scrutiny.
At the same time, the Texans clearly valued what Montgomery brings beyond raw statistics. He has built a reputation as one of the league's toughest runners, consistently gaining difficult yards between the tackles while providing reliability in pass protection. Those qualities can be especially valuable for an offense looking to take pressure off quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Houston also isn't asking Montgomery to carry the offense by himself. Rookie Woody Marks is expected to have a meaningful role, giving Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley the flexibility to keep both backs fresh throughout the season. A shared workload could help maximize Montgomery's effectiveness while limiting the wear and tear that comes with being a featured back.
Whether the trade ultimately proves worthwhile will come down to production. If Montgomery helps stabilize the running game, protects Stroud, and plays a key role in another postseason run, few people in Houston will worry about the draft capital that was spent. Until then, the move will remain one of the Texans' most debated offseason decisions and an easy target for critics who believe the franchise overpaid for a veteran running back.
Continue reading...
