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The Houston Texans have a wide assortment of needs. Pick a position. There’s problems. Interior offensive line, defensive tackle, defensive end, pass rusher, linebacker, cornerback, safety, wide receiver, running back, and kind of, sort of, even with Deshaun Watson on the roster, quarterback.
Naturally, the Texans, with their first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, selected quarterback Davis Mills from Stanford.
Texans draft Stanford quarterback Davis Mills 67th overall.
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 1, 2021
Prior to this selection, Houston had Deshaun Watson, Ryan Finley, and Tyrod Taylor on the roster. Despite their needs all over the roster, Houston added another quarterback to the carousel. It looks like the Texans are trying to live in a post-Deshaun Watson world, whenever that happens.
Dane Brugler with The Athletic had Mills as his sixth best quarterback and had the following to say:
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Stanford, Mills operated in offensive coordinator Tavita Pritchard’s pro-style scheme and split his snaps from under center and shotgun. The No. 1 quarterback in the 2017 recruiting class (ahead of Tua Tagovailoa), his college career was interrupted by the left knee injury from high school and then a COVID-shortened 2020 season and he finished with basically one full year of starting experience. A loose, well-built passer, Mills shows the ability to scan, operate from various platforms and throw with touch/anticipation. He is one of the best middle-of-the-field passers in the draft, but needs time to grow and eliminate the “what are you doing?” plays from his tape. Overall, Mills is still learning the throws he should and shouldn’t make, but he has size and mobility and delivers a very catchable ball with the field-reading skills to be a developmental NFLstarter, although the health of his left knee is a strong concern.
Mel Kiper Jr. had Mills as his 82nd overall player in the 2021 NFL Draft. Todd McShay had him 63rd overall.
All in all, Mills looks like a developmental prospect for a team with more pressing needs. For a franchise that you would assume would look to address QB after they receive whatever draft capital they get from the inevitable Watson trade and/or after what they earn from going through a rebuilding 2021 campaign, this pick doesn’t make much sense.