NFL Rumors: Devin Singletary Not a Lock to Return to Texans amid Saquon Barkley Buzz

The possibility that the Houston Texans could sign two-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley means Devin Singletary "isn't a lock" to return next season, according to KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson.

The 26-year-old running back "should have a healthy market" in free agency, per Wilson.

Singletary rushed for 898 yards and four touchdowns on one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Texans last regular season.

Wilson previously reported that Barkley had "targeted" the Texans "as his top potential destination" in free agency. He rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns with the New York Giants last season.

Barkley said later he was impacted throughout the season by the lingering effects of the ankle injury he suffered in Week 2.

Although Singletary began his first season with the Texans season behind running back Dameon Pierce, he earned more snaps throughout the early season and was granted a starting spot by Week 8.

Singletary has indicated he wants to stay in Houston, according to Wilson, and is likely a significantly cheaper option than Barkley. Spotrac projects his next contract at a $5.3 million per year, almost half of Barkley's projected $9.9 million AAV.

But the Texans are looking for change after ranking 22nd in rushing yards and 23rd in rushing touchdowns among all NFL teams last season.

Pierce, J.J. Taylor and Gerrid Doaks still under contract next season, but Wilson has indicated the Texans could be looking to make further changes to that lineup.

The team is "expected to explore additional running back options and there are scenarios where they sign more than one running back," Wilson wrote on Feb. 29.

Wilson added Sunday that those options could include D'Andre Swift, a 2023 Pro Bowler with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Tony Pollard, who last season recorded a quadruple-digit rushing yards total for the second straight season with the Dallas Cowboys.

Neither of those options come with as high of a potential upside as Barkley, who racked up 1,312 rushing yards for 10 touchdowns in 2022. The former Giants star could be just what the Texans need to help 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud become an even greater threat next fall.