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Right before the 2019 season began, the Texans traded Martinas Rankin to the Chiefs for Carlos Hyde. The Texans found themselves with a need at running back after Lamar Miller tore his ACL in a preseason game. Hyde immediately became the Texans’ top running back. From that point on, Hyde carried the football a lot for Houston. Like, a lot a lot. Last season, Hyde had 245 carries for 1,070 yards, 6 touchdowns, and a misleading 4.4 yards per carry that was bloated by some meaningless late game runs.
Early this offseason, sources reported the Texans offered Hyde two years and $10 million while they are doing everything they could to keep their T.E.A.M. together. Hyde allegedly turned down the Texans’ offer. Shortly after that rejection, the Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for David Johnson and the 40th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Now Houston had a running back to replace Hyde (besides Duke Johnson, who is also on the roster but never seems to be a candidate for RB1 duties), and Hyde had nowhere to go.
For whatever reason, Hyde turned down Houston’s contract offer. Maybe he didn’t want to take on 250 carries again for only $5 million dollars per year. More likely, like all running backs, Hyde overestimated his own value and has that 2003 mindset that running backs who rush for 1,000 yards in a season should be paid handsomely, no matter how many carries it takes to get there.
After a couple months in the wilderness, Hyde finally signed a one-year contract that be worth up to $4 million with the Seattle Seahawks yesterday.
Former Texans’ RB Carlos Hyde reached agreement with the Seattle Seahawks, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 22, 2020
New #Seahawks RB Carlos Hyde can earn up to $4M on his 1-year deal. A perfect landing spot after last year’s resurgence. https://t.co/Me2PB7Rj6j
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 22, 2020
They collect running backs in Seattle. Hyde will join a backfield that already has Chris Carson and former second round pick Rashaad Penny. The Seahawks have had issues with keeping their running backs healthy but love to run the football, leading to Marshawn Lynch running the ball 12 times for 26 yards in a playoff game last year.
Despite all the competition for carries, Hyde should stick with Seattle next season and continue to generate four yards up the middle. Good luck to him.