Davis Mills can dictate what Texans do in the 2022 NFL draft

The Houston Texans have been in need of a quarterback.

Whether it is the 22 women alleging sexual assault against Deshaun Watson, or his trade request from January that has not been rescinded, the Texans have experienced long-term ambiguity at quarterback in 2021.

The expectation after signing Tyrod Taylor in free agency was Houston would ride out 2021 and then look to the 2022 NFL draft for their new signal caller as the Texans would finally have a first-round pick. The Miami Dolphins were still in possession of Houston’s first- and second-round picks in 2021.

Then, the Texans picked Davis Mills, No. 67 overall, in Round 3 from Stanford in the draft.

Maybe the Texans were going to develop him. There is no way he would see the field, unless Taylor were injured or backup Jeff Driskel were entirely ineffective.

Over the course of training camp and preseason, Mills relegated Driskel to the practice squad, and actually saw his first action in Week 2 in relief of an injured Taylor in the 31-21 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Mills completed eight passes on 18 attempts for 102 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and was sacked once.

Taylor is on injured reserve for at least the next three games per the NFL’s rules for players designated to return, which he will be. Whether Taylor’s hamstring cooperates with this timeline remains to be seen.

The fact is it is Davis Mills’ time, and what he does over the next three to four weeks will determine what the Texans do in the spring.

If Mills is anxious or gets shell-shocked and it stunts his development, the Texans may have to scrap the plans to turn the franchise over to him and look at players like Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma in the draft.

If Mills plays well, shows improvement, takes command of the offense, develops swagger in the pocket, regardless of wins or losses, he can take over the starting job from Taylor, even when he returns from injury. At that point, Mills can use the rest of the season to convince assistant directors of player personnel Matt Bazirgan and James Liipfert to leave quarterback alone in their scouting of the draft.

Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly says the goal will be to put Mills in the best positions to succeed.

“I think any time you have a different quarterback in the game, you’re doing what you can to try to play to his strengths,” said Kelly. “Davis has done a good job since he’s got here coming in and putting himself in a position to go out and hopefully make that transition seamlessly. We’re going to still do what we can to make sure we’re putting him in a spot to be successful.”

Game one starts against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football in Week 3. If Mills can lead the Texans to a 2-1 start, it should inject some optimism in a fan base that wrote off the 2021 season before Valentine’s Day.