INDIA — The Houston Texans won their first division championship in four years last fall, and Devin Singletary played a crucial role in that victory.
Is he going to return for Round 2 in 2024? For DeMeco Ryans and the defending AFC South champions, it’s at least a possibility.
During Tuesday’s NFL Scouting Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center, Ryans was unsure about Singletary’s comeback but excited by the fifth-year pro’s development in the offense in the last stretch.
Ryans declared, “Devin is made of the right stuff.” “He works very hard. He is an executive. The players around him benefit from his positive attitude, which he brings to practice every day. Devin was a very kind man. What transpires in free agency will be observed.
Ryans talked about how Singletary’s charisma and presence really impressed out during his free-agent interview with the team in the previous summer. The first-year coach recognized right away that the 26-year-old would bring the much-needed energy that was lacking on the field.
No, nothing is finalized just yet, but Ryans did express that he would love to work with Singletary again if the two sides could come to an agreement on the terms of a deal.
The first-year coach stated, “We would love to have Devin back just because of what he brought to our team.” “He was definitely a bright spot for us in that running back room.”
Under rookie star C.J. Stroud, Houston’s offense flourished, but it depended too much on the passing game. The Texans kept winning games by using the air rather than the ground, even after Singletary found his rhythm in the first-team huddle.
In Week 6, Singletary assumed the lead as the leading rusher and finished with a career-high 898 running yards and four touchdowns. For the fourth year in a row, he surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards and averaged 6.4 yards per grab.
The decision-making for Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio will focus on what’s best for the near and long term. If Dameon Pierce improves in Year 3, then keeping Singletary after another strong campaign might benefit both teams.
The Texans may also select a one-year contract for Singletary in order to pursue a permanent option through the draft. During the first drills at Lucas Oil Stadium, players to keep an eye on are Bucky Irving of Oregon, Ray Davis of Kentucky, MarShawn Lloyd of USC, and Jaylen Wright of Tennessee.
In the event that the Texans decide to pursue free agency, players like Zach Moss, Josh Jacobs, D’Andre Swift, Saquon Barkley, and JK Dobbins should all be kept an eye on. Since the beginning of the offseason, Barkley has been associated with Houston, and there is supposedly mutual interest on both sides.
