INDIANAPOLIS -- Devin Singletary was essential in helping the Houston Texans clinch their first division title in four years last fall.
Will he be back for Round 2 in 2024? It's at least on the table for DeMeco Ryans and the reigning AFC South champions.
Ryans was noncommittal toward Singletary's return during Tuesday's media session at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center but was enthusiastic about the fifth-year pro's progress in the offense down the stretch.
"Devin is made of the right stuff," said Ryans. "He's a hard worker. He's a leader. He shows up every day in practice with a great attitude and the guys around him feed off of that. Devin was a great guy. We'll see what happens in free agency."
Ryans mentioned how Singletary stood out during his free-agent interview with the franchise last offseason, ehuding personality and presence. Immediately, the first-year coach knew the 26-year-old would provide the much-needed spark missing internally on the field.
No, nothing is set in stone yet, but Ryans at least made it clear that if the two sides could agree on the parameters of a contract, he'd love to spend another season with Singletary on staff.
"We would love to have Devin back just because of what he brought to our team," said the first-year coach. "He was definitely a bright spot for us in that running back room."
Houston's offense blossomed behind rookie sensation C.J. Stroud, but it relied too much on the passing game. Even after Singletary hit his stride in the first-team huddle, the Texans continued to close out games through the air over the ground.
Singletary totaled a career-high 898 rushing yards and four touchdowns after taking over as the leading rusher in Week 6. He totaled over 1,000 scrimmage yards for the fourth consecutive year and averaged 6.4 yards per catch.
Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio will determine what's best for not just the short-term but also for the foreseeable future. Retaining Singletary after another quality season could be a win-win for both sides if Houston sees growth from Dameon Pierce in Year 3.
The Texans also could bring back Singletary on a one-year deal while targeting a permanent option via the draft. Early names to monitor during drills at Lucas Oil Stadium include Oregon's Bucky Irving, Kentucky's Ray Davis, USC's MarShawn Lloyd, and Tennesse's Jaylen Wright.
Should the Texans pivot toward free agency, names to monitor include Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, D'Andre Swift, JK Dobbins, and Zach Moss among others. Houston has been linked to Barkley since the start of the offseason, and reportedly there's mutual interest from both sides.
But there's interest in Singletary, who might be the best option for both value and production. Ryans looks to be on board with a reunion, but he's only one-fourth of the puzzle locked in place entering free agency.
At least two more sides need to lock in before anything can be finalized.
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