Inside The Star
The Houston Texans continue to retool their roster for a Super Bowl run, and their backfield overhaul could have ripple effects across the NFL.
With Joe Mixon entrenched as the starter and the recent addition of Nick Chubb as his backup, third-year back Dameon Pierce finds himself on the outside looking in.
If Pierce becomes a trade or cut candidate, the Dallas Cowboys, who lack a clear RB1, should act quickly.
With a young and unproven backfield, Pierce could be the physical tone-setter Dallas needs.
Joe Mixon, traded during the 2024 offseason, gave the Texans a reliable veteran who handled the majority of touches last year.
This offseason, Houston added Nick Chubb to the mix, a four-time Pro Bowler whose recovery from knee surgery appears to be on track. That move bumped Pierce down to RB3.
That’s a surprising fall for a player who rushed for 939 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2022 and showed promise as a punishing runner with strong balance and vision.
Injuries and schematic shifts in 2023 limited his usage, and now the Texans’ title aspirations could push him off the roster altogether.
Pierce is still on a rookie contract, making him an affordable and attractive option to other teams.
Houston could cut him post-June 1 and save a little over $1 million in cap space, but trading him would make more sense.
He still holds value as a 25-year-old back who’s flashed starter potential.
The asking price wouldn’t be high.
A conditional sixth-round pick, possibly upgrading to a fifth if performance benchmarks are met, should be enough.
It’s a classic low-risk, high-reward situation—and we all know who likes low-risk—for a team needing backfield help.
The Cowboys enter the 2025 season with a wide-open backfield.
Javonte Williams, signed in free agency, has flashed big-play ability in Denver but has struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
Miles Sanders is coming off a disappointing stint in Carolina and hasn’t looked like the back who dominated in 2022.
Beyond those two veterans, the Cowboys are leaning on youth: rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafeh.
Blue, a dynamic playmaker out of Texas, has upside but will need time to adjust to the speed and complexity of the NFL. Mafeh brings physical traits and special-teams value, but he’s not a plug-and-play starter either.
Dameon Pierce would immediately become the most reliable early-down option. He’s proven, young, and physical, all traits Dallas needs behind a restructured offensive line and a run-first approach under Brian Schottenheimer.
In a Schottenheimer-led offense that emphasizes balance and physicality, Pierce makes perfect sense. He thrives between the tackles, finishes runs with authority, and rarely goes down on first contact.
Dameon Pierce goes 54 yards for the score!
📺: #HOUvsNE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/aphSKEA2gI— NFL (@NFL) [October 13,...
