Wolf
100% Texan
It seems like a day doesn't go by without some buzz about the Texans trying to trade Steve Slaton before the start of the 2011 season - if there is a season.
Allow me to throw in my two cents, and consider this your daily buzz on Slaton trade talk.
Slaton (5-9, 210) is 25 years old and entering his fourth season in the league. The Texans third round pick in 2008 is in the final year of his contract and is part of a very crowded backfield with Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Derrick Ward. He is due to make $1.2 million this season.
After a sensational rookie season, Slaton sustained a neck injury in 2009 which led to off-season surgery to repair a disk and fuse two vertebrae in his cervical spine. The neck injury and symptomatic weakness in his right arm and hand were perceived to have contributed to his fumbling problems during the 2009 season.
Despite the season ending injury to Ben Tate in the first game of preseason in 2010, Slaton's role was reduced significantly last year as Derrick Ward took over the RB2 spot. Slaton, who was given a clean bill of health following the neck surgery, had only 22 touches in 12 games along with 39 kickoff returns for a meager 19.7 yards per return.
So what could the Texans reasonably expect in trade for Slaton?
Like the real estate market, let's look at some comps - although there aren't many recent running back trades that compare well to Slaton.
Leon Washington (5-8, 195) might be the best in a weak set of comparisons. Washington is 28 years old and 5 year veteran. The Jets received a fifth round pick from Seattle in exchange for Washington and a seventh-round pick in April 2010. Primarily a third-down back and kick returner when with the Jets, Washington had received a second round tender from the Jets prior to the trade and was coming off a compound leg fracture suffered mid-way through the 2009 season. Washington had three kickoff returns for touchdown last season for Seattle and has only six fumbles in five seasons as a pro.
J.J. Arrington (5-9, 212) may not be a fair straight-up comparison to Slaton but it's a data point
Lawrence Maroney (5-11, 220) isn't a good role-comparison to Slaton but his trade last season is another data point.
http://www.examiner.com/houston-texans-in-houston/examining-steve-slaton-s-trade-market