What You Need to Know:

• Burkhead signed a 1-year deal with Houston last offseason.
• Injuries around him helped Burkhead post a team-best 122-427-3 rushing line.
• His season was highlighted by a 22-149-2 line vs. a Chargers squad that invited the run.
• Overall, he finished as an RB2 3 times.
• Burkhead notched only 3.5 YPC.
• Among 44 RBs with 120+ carries, Burkhead ranked last in PFF rushing grade; 32nd in yards after contact per attempt.
• The Texans re-signed Burkhead to a 1-year, $2.35 million deal that’s slightly more than what Marlon Mack earned as a free agent.
• Mack missed nearly all of the 2020 season with an Achilles tear. He was a healthy inactive for most of 2021 behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines.
• Houston added Florida RB Dameon Pierce in Round 4 this year. With a well-rounded game and little tread off his tires, Pierce projects for an immediate role.
• Houston returns 2nd-year QB Davis Mills as the starter. While he showed some flashes, Mills remains a major wild card.
• Pep Hamilton takes over as the OC. In 3 stints as an OC, his units ranked 23rd, 17th and 21st in rush attempts.
• The ’21 Texans ranked bottom-3 in scoring and total yardage, so major improvement is needed to support a 2 or 3-headed backfield.

Draft Sharks Bottom Line:

Burkhead’s 122 carries from 2021 actually marked a season-high. So he doesn’t have a lot of wear and tear on his body.

Still, we’re talking about a 30-year-old RB (31 in November). And the track record for those guys simply isn’t encouraging.

Considering Houston’s suspect offense and RB competition in Marlon Mack and Dameon Pierce, it’s tough to see an upside path for Burkhead.