Texans likely to use draft picks to 'build around' Davis Mills?

The Houston Texans have some interesting plans at quarterback for the 2022 season.

The Texans on Friday traded Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns for a haul of picks. They’re receiving three first-round picks, a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick for their former franchise quarterback.

Not only do the Texans have an army of picks, but they also are set to choose No. 3 overall in this year’s draft due to their 4-13 record last season.

So, what are Houston’s plans at quarterback? NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport says the team is likely to stick with Davis Mills, whom they drafted in the third round last year.

“They have a quarterback they like in Davis Mills,” Rapoport reported Friday. “If he was drafted in the first round, I think people would be talking about Davis Mills differently. I think what the Texans are going to do is build around him.”

There are a few things to be said about Rapoport’s report.

Mills actually showed some decent potential as a rookie, throwing for 2,664 yards and 16 touchdowns. Maybe they will continue to give him chances to develop. Doing so has a few upsides.

One, Houston is probably in tank mode. They probably want a high draft pick in 2023 too, and maybe even in 2024 as they rebuild. Mills is a low-cost player who could aid their efforts to land a high draft pick. But if he turns out to be a very good player, they could have found themselves a surprising franchise QB, or they could trade him elsewhere for a decent return.

Overall, Mills seems to fit Houston’s 2022 plan.