Clayton: If healthy, Arian Foster could be option for Seahawks
Mar 6, 2016, 4:48 PM
Arian Foster missed 12 games last season from injury but could be a possibility for Seattle's backfield. (AP)
(AP)
There’s a deep pool of veteran free-agent running backs available for the Seahawks, who happened to be interested in adding some depth at that position. ESPN’s John Clayton told “Danny, Dave and Moore” on the Cold Hard Facts segment that recently released four-time Pro Bowler Arian Foster might be among those intriguing possibilities – if he’s healthy and affordable.
“First you have to see where he is physically,” Clayton said. “You’d like to try to get a younger back, but he’s a back that may work out. You compare him right now to see if you like him better than Fred Jackson and so he would be a candidate. Because he’s been cut, he doesn’t go against your compensatory (pick) pool, so that’s encouraging. So he would be an option.”
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Houston released the franchise’s all-time leading rusher Thursday, with the 29 year old scheduled to make $6.5 million next season. Foster has missed 23 games in the past three seasons, including 12 last year because of injuries to his groin and Achilles tendon. Foster’s finest season for the Texans came in 2010 when he led the NFL in rushing and yards from scrimmage at 2,220.
With Thomas Rawls at the top of Seattle’s depth chart where Marshawn Lynch used to sit, it could likely use another veteran back to help out the second-year player and possibly replace Jackson and/or Christine Michael. The current running-back market includes former starters Foster, Doug Martin, Lamar Miller, Chris Ivory, Joique Bell and Matt Forte.
Clayton speculated that Forte and Foster will likely receive similar money on the open market, likely in the $3.5-$4 million range, noting that there are currently only five running backs left in the NFL making more than $4.1 million per season.
While Seattle may be an option for Foster, Clayton believes the Broncos, and Foster’s former head coach Gary Kubiak, might take the first look.
“Foster might be that back that will go up and play on the other side of (Denver’s starting running back) CJ Anderson,” he said.
