Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
- Adam ParkerThe Houston Texans head into the 2012 league year with several difficult choices.
But they've taken care of one major player, reaching agreement on a five-year, $43.5 million contract with running back Arian Foster that includes a hard guarantee of $20.75 million, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Foster is set to make $18 million this season and $30 million over the first three years of the deal, the source said.
Foster was initially a candidate to receive the Texans' franchise player designation if the sides couldn't agree to a new, long-term contract by Monday at 4 p.m. ET, the deadline for teams to use their franchise tags on pending free agents.
Foster's career has blossomed after the 25-year-old went undrafted out of Tennessee in 2009 despite rushing for 2,964 yards over his four-year collegiate career.
Foster was picked up by the Texans as a free agent only to be released later that September and then signed to Houston's practice squad the next day. He made the active roster that November after injuries to Houston's other running backs and rushed for 257 yards in six games.
Now, after making a pedestrian $525,000 last season, Foster is finally getting the money he has proven he's worth over the last two seasons.
After becoming Houston's starter in 2010, Foster finished the season with an NFL-best 1,615 yards rushing and league-leading 2,220 yards from scrimmage.
In his second season as the Texans' starter, Foster continued with his great play, tallying 1,224 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns en-route to his second consecutive Pro-Bowl despite sitting out three games due to injury.
Since bursting onto the scene in 2010, Foster has played like the league's best value; this year teaming with second-year running back Ben Tate to help the Texans weather injuries to starting quarterback Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinart.
The two-headed backfield led Houston and rookie signal caller T.J. Yates to its first-ever AFC South title, first playoff appearance and first postseason victory in franchise history.
There will be some who will point to the cautionary tale of Chris Johnson and wonder why the Texans chose to pay Foster this kind of coin. However, I wouldn't pay them any mind. The Texans made a smart choice here.
Entering the league as an undrafted free agent, Foster came into the NFL with a huge chip on his shoulder. Now, I could be wrong, but something tells me that just because Foster is finally getting the greenbacks he deserves doesn't mean he'll be getting complacent anytime soon.
In fact, I expect him to run even harder now.
If you're curious who to go with as the top overall pick in the next fantasy football season, look no further -- Arian Foster is your man.
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