Devin Singletary

Giants Looking Into Veteran RBs

April 9th, 2024 at 12:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumored to be interested in a mid-round running back last year, the Giants waited until Round 5 (Eric Gray) to make that move. As a result of their plan last year, a talent gulf existed between Saquon Barkley and the rest of the Giants’ backfield.

To be fair, Barkley is talented enough that would be the case for several teams. But the Giants did not roster a notable backup in 2023. With Barkley on the franchise tag, that strategy was somewhat curious — especially given the six-year starter’s injury history. Barkley is now an Eagle, and the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll duo reunited with Devin Singletary on a midlevel deal. The team may not be eyeing only the draft to supplement Singletary.

The Giants are in the market for a veteran backup to team with Singletary, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes (subscription required). The Giants balked at re-tagging Barkley, though they were among the four teams that made an offer. The Schoen-led front office viewed Barkley as too expensive. Singletary is now in place as New York’s starter, having signed a three-year, $16.5MM deal with $9.5MM guaranteed at signing. It would surprise if Big Blue was willing to spend much to add a veteran complement, but given Singletary’s history, the team’s primary backup may not be on the roster yet.

The 5-foot-7 back has topped 190 carries in a season once — last year, when the Texans gave him 216 handoffs — but Duggan does add the recent free agency addition should be expected to operate in a workhorse capacity. This would be an interesting strategy. While Daboll did coach Singletary for three seasons in Buffalo, Zack Moss was in the picture for two of those campaigns. Singletary has logged 888 career carries. That number is considerably lower than Barkley’s (1,201), and while the former has proven durable (two missed games in the 2020s), he is not exactly built for bellcow-like workloads.

A few veterans of note remain available. Ezekiel Elliott has once again been connected to the Cowboys, but the two-time rushing champion is unattached. J.K. Dobbins has visited the Chargers and Chiefs; the latter ended up re-signing Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the day of the visit. Cam Akers is unsigned; he joins Dobbins in coming off a severe injury. Kareem Hunt, Rashaad Penny and Boston Scott — he of some success against the Giants — join multiyear Barkley backup Matt Breida as available backs. Breida, 29, averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in 2023; though, the ex-49er fared better under Daboll in 2021 and ’22.

A mid-round RB addition certainly makes sense, though this year’s class is not regarded as highly as 2023’s. Gray and 2021 sixth-rounder Gary Brightwell represent the Giants’ current top backup options. That probably will not be the case when training camp begins.

Giants, RB Devin Singletary Agree To Deal

March 11th, 2024 at 3:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Not long after losing Saquon Barkley, the Giants have found a replacement. Devin Singletary has agreed to a deal with New York, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes the three-year pact has a base value of $16.5MM and it can reach up to $19.5MM via incentives. That marks a major raise compared to the one-year accord Singletary played on in Houston last season. He took on lead back duties midway through the 2023 season, and he has now parlayed that into a multi-year deal.

In terms of guarantees, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan adds Singletary secured $9.5MM locked in at signing. This includes $3.5MM of the 5-foot-7 back’s 2025 base salary ($4.75). This stands to give the ex-Bills draftee a reasonable shot at being part of the 2025 Giants’ roster.

The former fourth-round pick started 56 games through four seasons in Buffalo, topping 900 yards from scrimmage in each of those campaigns. Despite showing some ability in both the run and pass game, Singletary’s lack of top-level consistency led to him settling for a one-year contract with the Texans last offseason.

Singletary was expected to be a backup to Dameon Pierce, who was coming off a productive rookie campaign. However, the sophomore RB couldn’t carry that production into 2023, forcing Singletary into a larger role than expected. The veteran ended up starting 10 of his 17 appearances, finishing with 1,091 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.

He parlayed that performance into a three-year deal with the Giants, where he’ll temporarily sit atop the depth chart. With Barkley out of the picture and Matt Breida also sitting in free agency, Singletary will surely be penciled in for the RB1 role ahead of the likes of Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray, although the team could look to add additional depth either via free agency or the draft.

Texans Likely To Pursue Tony Pollard, D’Andre Swift; Team Looking To Retain Sheldon Rankins, Steven Nelson

March 10th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nick Caserio has bargain-shopped at running back since taking over. Veterans Phillip Lindsay, Mark Ingram, Rex Burkhead and Devin Singletary have been among the low-cost options to stop through Houston during the GM’s three-year tenure. The team looks to be aiming a bit higher this year, though it is unclear how much higher.

Saquon Barkley-Texans interest surfaced recently, and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reiterates the Giants running back’s reciprocated interest in a Houston deal. The Texans, however, are expected to pursue several running backs; Tony Pollard and D’Andre Swift are among the targets, according to Wilson.

Pollard and Swift are unlikely to cost what Barkley will. The two-time Giants Pro Bowler is expected to be this year’s most expensive back, and his market could well surpass $10MM per year. That may be too rich for the Giants, who had been expected to make an offer but had not done so as of this week. Barkley’s contract will provide a key update on modern RB value, whereas Pollard and Swift figure to be more affordable.

While Barkley had banked more than $48MM between his rookie contract and a 2023 franchise tag, Pollard saw his value hindered by the Cowboys’ tag decision last year. Pollard made just more than $3MM on his rookie deal and $10.1MM on the tag. Based on his 2022 Pro Bowl showing, the former fourth-round pick would have generated a better market last year. Pollard was less impressive as the Cowboys’ go-to back. He produced fewer scrimmage yards (1,316) than in 2022 and saw his yards-per-carry number crater from 5.2 to 4.0 despite Dallas rolling out a three-All-Pro O-line. Still, Pollard has been a versatile player and a key cog in an explosive Dallas offense; as of Sunday, the Cowboys are also not ruling out another agreement with their dual-threat performer.

Swift has also shown ability as a receiver and runner, impressing through the air in Detroit while being more of a ground option in Philadelphia. Following a trade from the Lions last year, Swift seized the Eagles’ starting job in Week 2 and did not miss any games. That marked new territory for Swift, who had battled through nagging injuries in Detroit. Swift posted his first 1,000-yard rushing season — yes, with a top-tier Eagles O-line — and earned a Pro Bowl invite. At 25, he is also two years younger than Pollard.

Singletary leapfrogged Dameon Pierce on Houston’s depth chart last season, establishing new career-high marks in carries (216) and rushing yards (898). The ex-Bills third-rounder, who signed for just $1.77MM last year, displayed his usual durability in helping the Texans to the playoffs. He is expected to generate outside interest, with Wilson adding it is not a lock the 5-foot-7 back returns. Though, the former third-round pick expressed interest in staying near the end of the season. The Texans were believed to share that interest, but they look to have expanded their options as RBs are set to flood the market.

The Texans are interested in bringing back both Sheldon Rankins and Steven Nelson, Wilson adds. Rankins signed a one-year, $9.75MM deal in 2023, coming over from the Jets, who were interested in re-signing him. The former Saints first-rounder ranked seventh among interior D-linemen in pass rush win rate, totaling six sacks — his most since 2018 — and 10 QB hits. Rankins’ fit could certainly depend on how long the Texans stay in the Christian Wilkins sweepstakes.

Nelson has been a Texans CB starter for the past two years. Nelson intercepted a career-high four passes; he added a pick-six against Joe Flacco in the team’s wild-card win. Nelson turned 31 earlier this year, which should limit his market. Though, most of the top CBs on this year’s market are in their late 20s or early 30s.

Denzel Perryman would like to be part of the Texans’ 2024 equation, Wilson adds. His market did not produce much last year, however; the ex-Chargers second-rounder started 11 games and made 76 tackles. The Texans will need to make one move at linebacker, at least, with Blake Cashman also on the doorstep of free agency. Azeez Al-Shaair, who played for DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco, also has interest in coming to Houston.

Texans Saquon Barkley’s Preferred Destination?

February 29th, 2024 at 10:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans are among the teams to watch on the running back front, and a they will have no shortage of options to choose from in free agency. Several accomplished producers at the position are on track to be available, and Houston could be well-positioned for a splashy addition.

After ranking 22nd in the league in rushing (97 yards per game), improvement in that area is an obvious need. The Texans are flush with cap space, so they could benefit from the crop of available rushers set to reach the open market. Houston has been linked to a RB pursuit in general, but one notable name has emerged which would certainly represent a buzz-worthy move.

Saquon Barkley has “targeted the Texans as his top potential destination,” KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. Barkley has also been in communication with reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, Wilson adds. The Giants made the unsurprising move of franchise-tagging Barkley last offseason, and doing so again is still on the table. Talks on a New York extension are ongoing as well, meaning the former No. 2 pick might not reach free agency.

In the event he did, however, Houston would represent an attractive destination. Stroud’s rookie campaign helped guide the team to the divisional round of the playoffs, and he is surrounded by a relatively young skill-position corps which would allow for a big-money investment on the market. With three 1,000-yard seasons to his name, Barkley would provide a dynamic element to the Texans’ ground game.

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post confirms the expectation around the league is that general manager Nick Caserio will be a central player in the RB market this offseason. Caserio has a background with the Patriots, a team which has traditionally avoided making sizable investments in veteran backs. A shift in philosophy would thus come as a surprise, although an upgrade at the position would likely go a long way in ensuring the team can repeat its success on offense from 2023.

“What do I think is going to happen?” Caserio said (via Wilson) when speaking about a potential running back addition. “We’re all going to find out. Free agency, it’s what does the market tell you? And then any player, what are you willing to pay that player commensurate with their role?”

Barkley would be far from the only high-profile back the Texans could show interest in. Fellow 2023 franchise tag recipients Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard on set to reach free agency; the same is also true of Derrick Henry and Austin Ekeler. Among the pending free agents at the position is Devin Singletary, who joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year, $2.75MM deal.

Wilson reports there is a mutual interest between team and player for a new Singletary pact to be worked out. Such a development (coupled with the continued presence of 2022 fourth-rounder Dameon Pierce) would likely lessen the chances of a Barkley pursuit. Still, it is notable the latter has his eyes on a Houston arrangement while his Giants future remains in flux.

Texans Eyeing Free Agent Running Backs?

February 21st, 2024 at 9:01pm CST by Ben Levine

After Dameon Pierce struggled during his sophomore campaign, the Texans could be in the market for a new starting running back. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there’s buzz around the NFL that the Texans could try to improve at the position as they look to take some of the load off quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Pierce appeared to be the team’s RB of the future following his standout rookie campaign. The 2022 fourth-round pick finished his first season in the NFL with 1,104 yards from scrimmage, the third-most among rookie RBs (behind Kenneth Walker and Tyler Allgeier).

However, Pierce couldn’t replicate that production in 2023. He didn’t top four yards-per-rush in any of his first seven starts, and following a three-game inactive streak, he was firmly behind Devin Singletary on the depth chart.

Over those final seven games, Pierce only garnered 36 carries, and he was limited to only six offensive snaps in the postseason. In total, Pierce finished this past season with 517 yards from scrimmage on 158 touches, good for an average of 3.3 yards per touch. Pro Football Focus ultimately graded him 47th among 59 qualifying RBs.

Singletary topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage for a third-straight season, but the veteran is set to hit free agency. While there’s a chance he could look to extend his stay in Houston beyond one season, there’s no guarantee he’ll be back. Dare Ogunbowale is also an impending free agent, so the Texans will need to add some depth at the position.

While the organization could look to reset the position at the draft, it sounds like they’re considering using a chunk of their $60MM-plus in cap space at the RB position. Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard, and Austin Ekeler lead the list of free agent RBs heading into the offseason.

Devin Singletary Aiming To Re-Sign With Texans

January 4th, 2024 at 1:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Devin Singletary operated as the primary Bills running back during most of Josh Allen‘s initial years as their quarterback, but the former third-round pick did not receive too much interest on the open market.

A crowded running back free agent class led to a host of low-cost deals, giving the Texans an opportunity to add a proven veteran on a one-year, $2.75MM contract. Singletary has outperformed that deal, though the running back position’s value remains in question despite Jonathan Taylor‘s extension. Taylor’s Saturday counterpart would prefer to avoid another relocation.

Singletary said Thursday he wants to run it back with the Texans, via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, indicating he would embrace a return if the organization expresses interest as well. DeMeco Ryans has viewed Singletary as a vital part in the team’s turnaround, and the 5-foot-7 running back is closing in on a career-high total for single-season rushing yards.

Once again displaying durability, the diminutive back has taken over as Houston’s lead ball carrier. Dameon Pierce led the way as a rookie and spent the first half of this season as the Texans’ starter, but the 2022 fourth-round pick has not offered up a quality follow-up effort. With 835 rushing yards, Singletary more than doubles Pierce’s total (416). Pierce is also averaging just 2.9 yards per carry (to Singletary’s 4.3). Houston’s current RB1 ranks 16th in Next Gen Stats’ rushing yards over expected metric, with 58. Pierce ranks in the bottom five near the end of a disappointing season in Bobby Slowik‘s offense.

While GM Nick Caserio drafted Pierce, the Florida alum was obtained to play in Pep Hamilton‘s offense. Singletary has proven a fit under Slowik, who will certainly be back if he does not land a head coaching job during this year’s cycle. Singletary logged two high-volume college seasons, totaling 714 carries across his career at Florida Atlantic, but has played in at least 16 games in each of the past three seasons.

Having never topped 300 receiving yards in a season, Singletary likely will not carry a substantial price tag for 2024. Another crowded free agent market will affect his next salary. This year’s three franchise-tagged backs — Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard — join the likes of D’Andre Swift, Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry, Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and ex-Bills teammate Zack Moss as free agents-to-be. But the 26-year-old back has likely upped his market by a bit. Considering Singletary’s importance in the Texans’ new offense, it would be a bit surprising if the team was not interested in a second contract.

Contract Notes: Jaguars, Singletary, Packers

April 8th, 2023 at 10:05am CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars reworked safety Rayshawn Jenkins‘ contract earlier this week, creating a chunk of cap space. Per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, the team converted more than $6.4MM of Jenkins’ salary into a signing bonus and added three void years to the contract. As a result, the team dropped the defensive back’s cap number from $10.5MM to $5.3MM, thus opening more than $5MM in cap space.

Jenkins’ 2024 cap number will rise by more than $1MM. In the event the Jaguars eventually move on from the player, they’ll be left with a dead cap hit of $5.1MM in 2024 or $3.85MM in 2025.

We’ve collected more contract notes below:

Calais Campbell‘s one-year, $7MM deal with the Falcons includes a $4MM guaranteed salary and a $3MM signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). He can earn another $2MM via incentives, including marks for sacks and playing time. According to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein (on Twitter), $500K of Campbell’s incentives are likely to be earned.
Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins inked a one-year, $1.16MM deal with the Cowboys that also includes an $152K signing bonus, per Wilson (on Twitter). After starting 116 of his 117 appearances between 2014 and 2021, Hankins only started four of his 10 appearances for the Raiders and Cowboys last season.
Running back Devin Singletary‘s new deal with the Texans includes up to $1MM in incentives, per Wilson (on Twitter). Half of those bonuses come via playing time incentives, and he can earn another $500K for certain statistical milestones above 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
Dallin Leavitt’s one-year contract with the Packers is worth $1.4MM, including a $1.08MM base salary, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter). He can earn up to $170K in roster bonuses, all via $10K per-game roster incentives. Demovsky also passes along that Justin Hollins got an $155K signing bonus and $45K workout bonuses from the Packers, while Eric Wilson got an $152K signing bonus.
Defensive lineman Carlos Watkins got a one-year, $1.67MM deal from the Cardinals, according to Howard Balzer (on Twitter). This includes a $250K signing bonus, an $1.08MM signing bonus, and up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses. That all results in an $1.57MM cap hit.
Jordan Phillips‘ contract with the Bills is for one year worth $3MM, per Ryan O’Halloran of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). He’ll earn $1.22MM in guaranteed money, and he can earn up to $4.6MM thanks to incentives.

Texans To Sign RB Devin Singletary

March 20th, 2023 at 4:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Just as one notable addition has been reported on the Texans’ offense, another has emerged. Houston has agreed to a deal with running back Devin Singletary, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the one-year pact has a maximum value of $3.75MM (Twitter links).

The deal includes a base value of $2.75MM, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. Of this figure, $2.5MM will be guaranteed. There are $375K worth of incentives in the former Bills back’s deal.

Singletary, 25, essentially spent all of his four-year Bills career as the team’s lead back, though that tile led to a lower usage rate than it would have on most other teams. Now, he will head to Houston in what will be a timeshare in the backfield along with impressive 2022 fourth-rounder Dameon Pierce, who staked his claim to the top of the depth chart with a productive rookie campaign.

This free agency period, as expected, has not treated running backs especially well. As the top back available, even Miles Sanders did not hit the $7MM-per-year threshold. None of the non-Sanders contingent has surpassed $6MM per annum, but most of the starter-level backs who hit the market have now found homes. Singletary will attempt to carve out a steady role alongside Pierce in Houston.

The Bills used a second-round pick on James Cook last year and traded for Nyheim Hines, and Brandon Beane said the team plans to add another running back. The team showed interest in Jamaal Williams, but last season’s rushing touchdowns leader landed with the Saints. Buffalo may turn back to the draft to find a Cook complementary runner. Singletary’s four-year Buffalo tenure will end with 56 starts; his Houston run looks set to involve a rotational role.

Part of this year’s supply-and-demand crunch, the likely Pierce change-of-pace option is coming off a productive Buffalo stay. Singletary held off the likes of Cook and Zack Moss to remain the primary back during the Bills’ AFC East three-peat. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and cleared 800 in total in each of the past two seasons, adding three playoff touchdowns in 2021. Josh Allen still operated as the Bills’ primary goal-line option — much to the chagrin of Singletary or Moss fantasy GMs — but the team’s 5-foot-7 back still totaled 12 touchdowns over the past two seasons. The former Florida Atlantic star is just 5-foot-7 and has yet to clear 200 receiving yards in a season, but ahead of his age-26 campaign, he should still have some tread on his tires.

Although Singletary logged a whopping 301 carries during his dominant sophomore season at the Conference USA school (1,918 rushing yards in 2017), he has never topped 190 in a season as a pro. Barring an injury to Pierce, his Texans workload will likely be light as well. Singletary will join Dare Ogunbowale and Gerrid Doaks as non-Pierce options on Houston’s roster. The team has brought in several veteran backs during GM Nick Caserio‘s tenure — Rex Burkhead, Phillip Lindsay, Mark Ingram and Marlon Mack among them — and Singletary will be the latest. But Pierce, a 2022 fourth-rounder, will almost definitely begin a second season as the team’s ball-carrying centerpiece.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Latest On Bills’ Running Back Plan

July 1st, 2022 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills had not used a first- or second-round pick on a running back since taking C.J. Spiller ninth overall 12 years ago. Using a second-round choice on James Cook in April certainly points to the AFC East champions envisioning a change at the position.

Devin Singletary, however, is not expected to be demoted. The Cook pick notwithstanding, Buffalo’s coaching staff remains committed to Singletary being a key piece in 2022, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The South Florida product led the team with 870 rushing yards last season.

Cook’s arrival crowds the Bills’ backfield, though it should boost the unit’s passing-game capabilities. Cook is signed through 2025, making the Georgia product the long-term centerpiece of the Bills’ backfield. Singletary’s rookie contract runs through 2022, making this a critical year for the 5-foot-7 talent’s career. While he should be expected to start ahead of Cook and lead Bills backs in playing time, ceding some ground to the rookie in the passing game, per Buscaglia, there is a difference between that and a notable extension.

The 2023 running back free agency class could be one of the most interesting in recent NFL history. That market would stand to include Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Kareem Hunt and Damien Harris. Not all of this group would hit free agency, as teams’ efforts to keep 2017 draftees off the market showed. But some will. Singletary would not be the highest-profile back here, but he has been a solid per-carry producer (4.7 over three seasons) and has not — to this point — been given full workloads. The former third-round pick is sitting on 495 carries through three seasons.

Given ball-carrying veterans’ frequent issues on the market, it would not surprise if Singletary could be retained on a midlevel accord to pair with Cook beyond 2022. Zack Moss may have a say in that future. Phased out down the stretch last season, the 2020 third-rounder could enter 2022 facing a wide range of outcomes. A solid camp could put the power back in line to remain in Buffalo’s committee, but Buscalgia notes a trade before the season should not be ruled out. The Bills do have a quarterback who has proven quite capable in short-yardage situations. Josh Allen has 31 career rushing touchdowns, and his 763 ground yards last season dwarfed Moss’ total (345).

Buffalo also signed Duke Johnson this offseason, doing so after a failed effort to add J.D. McKissic. Moss falling further out of favor would benefit the veteran, who signed for just $378K guaranteed. Though, Moss and Johnson’s skillsets do not exactly overlap. The former Browns and Texans passing-down back still could supply depth for a backfield that promises to have more options than it has over the past two seasons.

Bills To Consider RB At No. 30?

April 20th, 2021 at 10:35pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills seem to have a full depth chart at running back, but Brandon Beane is receptive to adding a running back in the first round. Speaking to reporters, the GM revealed that the team would consider taking a running back at No. 30.

“What does his skill set have in comparison to what we have on the roster?” Beane asked reporters (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). “Is this player going to do something … I don’t think either one of our backs are home run hitters, so is there an elite trait that this guy has and says, ‘Man, he’s got something we don’t have.’ That’s probably the conversation, versus, ‘OK, are we going to take the same type of back as Devin [Singletary], are we gonna take the same type of back as Zack [Moss]? Because even those two guys have different skill sets.”

While the Bills have used third-round picks in each of the past two drafts to select running backs (Singletary in 2019, Moss in 2020), the team still ranked in the bottom-half of the NFL in rushing yards, yards per attempt, and rushing touchdowns (with a chunk of that production coming from Josh Allen and his 421-yard, eight-touchdown performance on the ground). While Singletary and Moss (along with free agent addition Matt Breida) should be a passable grouping in 2021, it’d make sense that the team would look to add a dynamic play-maker to the bunch.

Clemson’s Travis Etienne, Alabama’s Najee Harris, and North Carolina’s Javonte Williams could all be available when the Bills are on the clock at No. 30.

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