Checking The Pulse: Post-Draft, How Do You Feel About Running Back?

When last we discussed our feelings, the topic of conversation was quarterback. We now turn our attention to running back.

As your Houston Texans have been fortunate to employ the best RB in the league for the last few years, they made the wise decision to ask Arian Foster to stick around. He said yes, and we all cried. Twas a beautiful moment.

Behind Foster is one Ben Tate, who has to be in the conversation for the title of "Best RB2 In The NFL." Tate looked great in 2011, spelling Foster and carrying the load early in the season when Arian was nicked up. Leading up to the draft, there were rumblings of possibly trading Tate, but nothing came of that talk. Tate will start somewhere in the next few years. It's just a matter of where. With Foster's new contract and the eventual expiration of Tate's rookie deal, assuming Foster continues to produce at a high level, it's reasonable to believe Tate won't be in Houston in a couple of years.

At RB3 in '11 was Derrick Ward, who is not under contract for the upcoming season and remains unsigned. Rotoworld reports that the Texans would like to bring Ward back as a mentor, which is a nice way of saying they have absolutely no desire to pay him more than the minimum. Even then, there's a question as to whether the Texans should pay Ward the veteran's minimum when they could pay a much younger guy much less to be RB3.

The first two slots on Houston's depth chart at RB are set in stone for 2012. What do you think will happen with that third RB spot? And how many more years do you think Ben Tate is a Texan?