Feb. 26, 2026, 4:48 p.m. CT

Who could the Houston Texans be targeting at running back now that it seems like the days of Joe Mixon are in the past?

Most would say that Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III would be the top option on the market. They’d be correct as the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander reported that the Seattle Seahawks star is someone the Texans could target this offseason should he actually hit the open market.

As for other names? Alexander wrote several players could be options should the Texans miss out on Walker.

“Other targets could include Jaguars running back Travis Etienne or Panthers running back Rico Dowdle,” Alexander wrote. “Houston general manager Nick Caserio said drafting a running back or trading for one are also options.”

The hope seems to be for Walker to leave the Pacific Northwest and hit free agency. Earlier this week, it was reported that the Texans would take a similar approach to landing Walker as they did to two years when in pursuit of Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.

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In the final year of his rookie contract, Walker, 25, rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns while splitting carries with Zach Charbonnet. He went off in the Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots, totaling135 rushing yards on 27 carries while becoming the first running back to win MVP since Denver Broncos star Terrell Davis in in Super Bowl XXXII.

The only problem? Walker knows his value. He’s going to want to earn top dollar on his second contract and there are teams interested in making him a top-10-paid player at the position. According to Spotrac, Walker is projected to make $14 million annually on either a three or four-year contract. 

Should that be out of the Texans’ price range, Dowdle could be the best option in terms of value. Over the past two seasons, the former Cowboys and Panthers standout has rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored six total touchdowns. He’s also been durable, missing one game in two seasons.

The Texans plan on making a push for a top running back in the free agent market. If they’re desperate enough to improve their running game, perhaps it is a “Walker or bust” mentality for the franchise this offseason.