Houston Texans: Will Davis Mills Become the Franchise Quarterback in Houston?

One of the most surprising players of the 2021 season was Davis Mills. Can he make the Texans forget about drafting another quarterback?

The Houston Texans selected Davis Mills in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Unless you’re living under a rock, you’re aware of all the serious allegations surrounding Deshaun Watson. He missed the 2021 season, and this left a massive opening at quarterback for the Texans.

At first, it was believed that Tyrod Taylor would be the full-time starter for the team. Taylor played well in a week one victory versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. He started the next week against the Browns, but suffered a hamstring injury during the game. This forced him out of the lineup and onto the Injured Reserve.

Mills took over as the team’s signal-caller, and although they lost each of his first six starts, Mills showed signs that he could be a solid player in the NFL. Unfortunately, Mills had his momentum cut when Taylor returned from injury. Taylor was unable to replicate his early season success, and after sitting for three games, Mills returned in relief of Taylor in their week 13 game versus the Colts.

The final five games of the season showed why Mills is thought to be a breakout candidate in 2022. After being thrust into the lineup earlier in the season, Mills entered his second stint as starter much more poised than before. He posted a 68.4 completion percentage, 250 yards per game, and a stellar 9:2 TD:INT ratio. He was only sacked nine times, a drastic difference from the last time he was under center.

Those numbers are on par with the best in the league, and this is likely a major reason why the Texans refused to take a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead, they opted to load up the roster around Davis Mills to give him a true “try out” this season. Under the worst of circumstances, he performed well. What will he look like with more talent around him?

The team addressed cornerback with their first of two first-round picks, but the next was an offensive player. Kenyon Green, an offensive lineman that spent time at every position on the line at Texas A&M, will beef up the unit. He grades out well in both pass protection and as a run blocker, but many believe he will excel when he finds one position on the o-line to master.

John Metchie lll, a wide receiver from Alabama, was in constant first-round discussions prior to his season-ending ACL tear. The Texans got him in round two, providing incredible value when he returns. They already have one of the most underrated players in the league, Brandin Cooks, and a guy in Nico Collins with a lot of potential to become a starter on the outside.

Dameon Pierce is perhaps the pick that excites me the most for Davis Mills and his development. Pierce possesses great vision, and is a true dual-threat out of the backfield. He can churn yards on the ground, or slip out unnoticed as a pass catcher and rattle off yards with ease. Given the fact that the Texans only have journeymen running backs currently rostered, I see Pierce playing a pivotal role for the offense in 2022.

Mills will continue having Pep Hamilton call the plays, which is a great sign for a young quarterback. Hamilton is well-respected around the league. He made a name for himself as the play caller for Andrew Luck at Stanford, before eventually following the quarterback to Indianapolis. He most recently worked with Justin Herbert during the 2020 season, with credit being sent his way for such quick development.

I am not saying Davis Mills is as good as either of these two, but this is great news nonetheless for the quarterback. With a much-improved supporting cast on offense, including a trio of capable wide receivers and an offensive line that should be able to keep Mills clean, it’s impossible to not have optimism for the former Stanford Cardinal.