WEDNESDAY, 1:15pm: The Texans are still the “team to beat” for Miller, according to Rapoport, who tweets that the Cowboys are in the mix, but that the price tag may be too high for Dallas.
TUESDAY, 1:16pm: The Texans released Arian Foster last week, signaling the end of an era at the running back position in Houston. Could Lamar Miller become the next player to carry the load for the Texans? According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Houston is making a “strong push” to sign the free agent running back when the new league years begins on Wednesday.
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Miller, who turns 25 in April, is one of the most talented running backs on the market this year. The fact that he was somewhat underused in Miami may have frustrated Dolphins fans, but it could increase his appeal to rival suitors, since his 638 career rushing attempts don’t represent a huge workload.
In 2015, Miller ran for 872 yards and eight touchdowns on just 194 carries, adding another 397 yards and two TDs through the air on 47 receptions. His lone 1,000-yard season came in 2014, when he piled up 1,099 yards on the ground, with an impressive 5.1 yards per carry average.
Reports today have suggested that the Texans have “strong interest” in Miller, and that the Dolphins are increasingly unlikely to re-sign their free agent back. Miller is reportedly seeking an annual salary of $6MM+, so if Houston decides his price tag is too high, the team could see if Chris Ivory is more affordable — Ivory’s market is competitive too though, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, who writes that seven teams inquired on the Jets running back on Monday.
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