A dark cloud continues to linger above the starting quarterback role of the Houston Texans.
Tyrod Taylor will be taking over after sitting out last season for the Los Angeles Chargers due to a rib injury.
It was an unfortunate situation for Taylor because the team physician accidentally punctured his lung while administering painkillers.
Now, he gets to prove that he deserves the position, and he’s not a stop-gap solution.
But how possible is it for him to turn back the hands of time and portray an improved version of himself?
Gotta love the effort from @TyrodTaylor here.@HoustonTexans | #TBvsHOU pic.twitter.com/6XuWfFqcVe
— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2021
The Texans already know his ceiling, and it’s what they will work with.
He will be under scrutiny all season as long as Deshaun Watson stays with the team.
Unfortunately, Watson has off-the-field problems that he must deal with.
Yet he gives you the best chance of winning every time he takes the field.
However, he doesn’t want to play with the Texans anymore and has constantly asked for a trade.
If the Texans are uncertain about their top two quarterbacks, why not give Davis Mills a shot?
Davis Mills has arm talent, don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. Gut feeling tells me that he gets thrown into the fire some point later on this season. pic.twitter.com/udpvPhqmFd
— Shaun Chornobroff (@SChornobroff) August 29, 2021
Taylor’s best years are behind him, and his one-year deal makes him more of a rental than a long-term option.
Meanwhile, Watson’s mind is already out of Houston even if the team is holding him hostage as an inactive player.
The former Stanford quarterback could be the answer that head coach David Culley seeks in running his offense.
In just five games for the Cardinals last season, Mills threw for 1,508 yards and seven touchdowns.
He also set the school’s single-game passing record of 504 yards against Washington State.
A knee injury almost derailed his college career, but he eventually started 11 games.
No wonder the Texans selected him as the team’s top choice in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Pros And Cons For Mills
Arm strength is not a question for Mills.
He was able to complete a long throw to Keke Coutee in one of their practices.
Combine his rocket arm with his tight footwork on dropbacks, and he has the fundamentals to thrive in the NFL.
Mills also has enough speed to evade the rush and makes throws to different receivers.
His size also gives him an edge in seeing his receivers past the defensive line.
Likewise, he unleashes catchable throws, be it for short or long yardage.
Davis Mills to Nico Collins touchdowns are something we could get use to 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VAJHJyWL7s
— Rival Fantasy (@rivalfantasy) August 29, 2021
But while he has all the tools to succeed, his decision making and accuracy need improvement.
He releases the ball late at times and throws the ball high to a fault.
These inadequacies were on full display during the preseason.
Mills threw for 112 yards and one interception against the Green Bay Packers.
He completed ten passes for 115 yards the next game versus the Dallas Cowboys but threw no touchdowns.
His erratic ball placement was evident in their 23-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Georgia native made 106 yards and two touchdowns but also threw three picks.
We know Brock! Every interception has a story! The thing is Davis Mills is a Rookie, making rookie mistakes! pic.twitter.com/4NnvjRgHk3
— Bryan Hill (@mbhill64) August 29, 2021
Given an environment to succeed, Davis Mills can be the starter the Texans are looking for.
He is no Deshaun Watson, but building a roster that suits his strengths will help him thrive in the NFL.
For now, Taylor remains the top quarterback for the squad.
But a few bad performances can flip the script to make Mills the starter.
NEXT: Cam Newton And Texans Should Be An Obvious Match