Even if the organization wants to make C.J. Stroud earn it, Clutch City sports fans are ready for a new Houston Texans starting quarterback.
As admirable at best as Davis Mills may have been from 2021-22, the team’s 4-13 and 3-13-1 finishes are largely associated with his 28 games under center. Texans fans are ready to move on.
However, having Stroud supplant Mills as the starting quarterback may not get rid of the former 2021 third-rounder entirely.
According to Lauren Gray from Pro Football Focus, Mills demonstrated a proficiency as a deep passer last season. On 76 such drop backs, Mills posted a 90.8 PFF grade, which is notable.
Mills generated the sixth-most deep passing yards with 855, and he was tied for the 12th-most deep passing touchdowns with six. The former Stanford product was also sixth in the league with a 46.8% deep completion percentage.
In terms of passer rating, Mills was 22nd in the NFL with 85.8, and he did lead with the most deep passing interceptions with seven.
So long as the Texans are able to field vertical speed in their receiving corps and provide adequate protection for Mills, the deep passing game could still be open. No doubt the franchise and fans want the future to be now, but should they have to return to Mills in any capacity, providing him with a deep passing game could be a key to success.