HOUSTON – There are two ways to look at Houston Texans entry into 2022. Things are on the rise for the 4-13 franchise after the general manager Nick Caserio he seemed to have “nailed” the incoming draft class.
There is also a more logical way of looking at the big picture; Houston has a long way to go. The second phase of the road to quarrel could be accelerated with a second-year quarterback Davis Mills becomes a viable starter.
The odds don’t believe he will get the job done. Most of the premature fake drafts have made Texans the best choice of 2023. In addition, most of them take quarterback.
from Alabama Bryce Young? Of course. Ohio State CJ Stroud? Maybe. Some believe in Kentucky’s Will Levis is set for a pivotal year, making him a candidate for the next Texan quarterback.
Will Levis of Kentucky
CJ Stroud from Ohio
Bryce Young of Alabama
Unfortunately, this is the case with most quarterbacks selected outside the first 32 elections. The teams hope that the recruit from the middle circle will succeed in something promising, thus allowing them to develop around the potential client while paying a fraction of the cost.
More often than not, it doesn’t happen. Entering 2022, 72 percent of the initial quarterbacks were selected in the first round. Only a few selections in the middle of the circle are also considered “long-term” options.
Mills, who was selected for the 67th place in 2021, gained the right to start. The key word is “earned” in the sentence because nothing was handed over to him when he arrived at the NRG stadium.
Mills was forced to start for injured Tyrod Taylor in Week 2. Before he was ready for the first team, the Texans put him on fire. Here, the results were expected.
In the sample towards the end of the season, Mills looked like a capable passer. He finished with a 2-3 ratio, a conversion percentage of 68.7, nine touchdowns with two interceptions and a passer rating of 104.
So, yes, Mills earned the title of beginner in the first week of 2022. Everything else is based on what follows. If it continues to grow late last year, and the Texans continue to lose, there is a need to discuss what to do at No. 1.
If Mills is the reason Houston fails, it’s time to add first-round talent.
Even with the choice of Texans, how much better will Houston be? LSU corner Derek Stingley Jr.. can slightly repair a sad secondary and cause multiple shifts. The same could be said for Baylor’s safety Jalen Pitre in the game of running.
Scroll to Continue
Is that enough to change Houston from a four-win team to an eight-win team? More than likely, no.
John Metchie III is a high-volume recipient who ended up with 96 catches in his final year in Alabama. Pairing with Nico Collins and Brandi Cooks gives Houston a three-member arsenal that most offices would find useful.
Will that be enough to get Houston out of the AFC basement? Only if Mills can make the most of his full potential.
Mills as a rookie was in a situation of defeat. The team had zero direction to enter the new regime, plus they coped with losing the quarterback.
Quarterback franchise. The first franchise quarterback in team history. Is Mills second?
© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Davis Mills
© Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Davis Mills
© Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Davis Mills
Deshaun Watson leaving Houston now raises the question of whether Mills is the right answer. Only in the AFC, quarterbacks in the first round are becoming a trend in creating candidates.
Josh Allen in Buffalo. Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. Justin Herbert in Los Angeles. All four are favorites to win the AFC, but they are also all selected within the top 10 selections on their drafts.
It cannot be said whether Young, Stroud, Levis or others will succeed in the pros. The difference between them and Mills is list control and upside down. Another year in the Houston system could be a clear indication of where he sits in the eyes of the franchise.
That’s the reality for quarterbacks who aren’t in the first round. They give them one chance, and rarely another.
Mills ’hit comes starting week 1 of 2022. He probably has 17 games to prove he’s the 2023 guy. If there’s any downtime, Caserio will probably press the reset button.
This is the life of a quarterback without the possibility of a fifth year.