The Houston Texans selected former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
Space City’s nightmare is over. A field general with talent will usher in a new era for the Texans.
While the praise for Stroud is understandable, a little appreciation for one of the other Texans’ quarterbacks needs to be shown before turning the page entirely.
For the past two moribund seasons, Davis Mills has started 26 of Houston’s 34 games. While Mills has the most wins in that span (five), it is simply due to having more chances, not any elevation over the likes of Tyrod Taylor and Kyle Allen.
Here are four reasons why Texans fans should thank Mills before flying away to the Stroud era.
1. Saw the Texans as an opportunity
When Mills, the first pick of the Nick Caserio era at No. 67 overall in Round 3 of the 2021 NFL draft, first spoke with the Houston media, the Stanford product saw Houston as an opportunity.
“I think first thing, obviously, I can’t do it from the start, but I think my leadership ability is up there,” Mills said on April 30, 2021. “Obviously, you’ve got to get in front of some of my teammates to start building their respect by putting in hard work and then the next thing, just that winning mentality and that ability on the field. It all comes together as a team and can’t wait to get out there with the other guys on the team.”
The Texans were rolling into the 2021 campaign with David Culley as coach and rostering a monumental off-field distraction — in more ways than one. Smart money would have said Kellen Mond would have lasted longer than Mills.
Never dissed his predecessor
Heck, Mills was asked about the quarterback in question on his introductory Zoom with the Houston media.
“Obviously, the only thing I can control is how I handle myself,” said Mills. “Like I said, just can’t wait to get out there and start meeting the people already in Houston.”
It wasn’t just playerspeak either. During training camp, which featured the bizarre ritual of filming a three-time Pro Bowler doing nothing, Mills had conversations and used the former 2020 NFL passing champion as a resource.
“He’s helped out a lot with what he’s done with me,” said Mills. “Any questions I have, like the other guys too, he’s an open book, and he’s taught me a lot.”
Never got down
Each time Mills was benched in 2021 and 2022, he took the opportunity to reflect on his play and see where he could have done better.
“These past two weeks allowed me to sit back and continue to learn,” Mills said on Dec. 9, 2022, after he returned from being benched for two weeks. “Early on in the season and as the season progresses there’s a whirlwind of everything, as you play a game, watch the film immediately after the game and then you’re quickly on to the next opponent. There’s not really a time to sit there and evaluate what you’re doing. You’re just trying to progress as the season goes, but these last two weeks really allowed me to sit back and start piecing some more things together in my mind of what it takes to be successful out there.”
Rather than pouting, Mills sought ways where he could have done better.
Will help, not hinder, C.J. Stroud
Even though the Texans were deploying a quirky offense with Mills and backup quarterback Jeff Driskel alternating series and sometimes even plays in the final five games of the season, Mills used Driskel as someone he could collaborate with.
“There’s a lot of back-and-forth on the sideline, making sure we were seeing things the same, kind of bouncing ideas off each other,” Mills said on Dec. 14, 2022. “Obviously, our play calls weren’t the exact same, so we’re not seeing the exact looks. From the mind of the quarterback, a lot of times you can only relate to what other quarterbacks are thinking. When you have somebody to talk to who’s also getting live reps, live bullets flying at them in the game, it helps.”
The Texans won’t return to the two-quarterback system ever with Stroud, but he may have a mind on the sidelines he can work with in Mills.
