Texans bolster backfield with Dameon Pierce in Round 4

The Houston Texans selected Florida running back Dameon Pierce in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 107 overall.

Pierce led the Gators with 16 scrimmage touchdowns last season, though he was limited to only 100 rushing attempts on the year. He finished the campaign with 574 yards (5.7 per carry) and 13 scores on the ground.

The Texans, who averaged a league-worst 3.4 yards per carry in 2021, also bolstered their backfield with veteran running back Marlon Mack this offseason. Rex Burkhead topped the team last year with just 427 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Scouting profile: Dameon Pierce

Pierce is an enigmatic prospect with what appears to be a deep well of untapped upside. For whatever reason, the Florida coaching staff kept his role extremely limited. The 22-year-old was held under 10 touches in eight of his 13 appearances in 2021 and never had more than 106 carries in a single season. Even so, he seems to have the tools to be capable of much more. He sports a compact and powerful frame that performs well when it encounters contact. While not a big-play threat, he displayed a nose for the end zone, scoring 16 times on 119 touches as a senior. It's a bit of a projection, but Pierce is capable of delivering a lot more than what we've seen so far. Whether he gets a shot to flourish in the pros depends on the depth chart he joins.