Houston Texans sign RB Joshua Pitsenberger

Joshua Pitsenberger's three-year deal at roughly $1M AAV earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), which lands this signing squarely in fair-deal territory for a depth acquisition at the running back position. At $1,033,333 annually across a $3.1M total commitment, the Texans are paying near the league minimum floor for a backfield depth piece — the kind of contract that carries virtually zero cap risk on a roster with a nine-game winning streak and playoff positioning to protect. Pitsenberger profiles as a replacement-level to roster-filler back at this stage, and the salary reflects exactly that ceiling — there's no premium baked in for upside, which is the correct approach when adding a non-featured running back in the offseason. The three-year length is the one element worth monitoring; locking in a depth RB for 36 months can become roster clutter if the Texans need that spot for a higher-upside option down the line, particularly once the regular season kicks off in 124 days. With no guaranteed money reported in the data, however, Houston almost certainly has a clean exit valve if Pitsenberger doesn't stick through final cuts, which meaningfully reduces the structural risk. The CVI here reflects a signing that does exactly what it's supposed to do — fill a depth chart slot at a fiscally responsible number — without offering much in the way of upside value either.