Houston is gearing up for blast off, but can it do it without a crucial piece? What will the quarterback room look like come August in HTX?
The fate of the Texans is tough, and one that’s in a whole bunch of turmoil. One thing is clear though, something has to change. The firing of Lovie Smith isn’t enough, instead, Houston needs an entire overhaul following one of their worst seasons yet in the team’s still fledgling years.
After the loss of Deshaun Watson and a host of key pieces to the team, the Texans fell into limbo, led by quarterback Davis Mills, failing to reach 5 wins in two years and the honor of being the NFL’s second worst team in 2022. Mills, a 2021 3rd round pick out of Stanford got off to a surprisingly hot start in 2021, leading some to believe he might be Houston’s long term solution at quarterback. However, an abysmal 2022 season made it evident that the Texans need some help, and under center might be the place to start.
In a David Frost type storyline, the Texans have reached a crossroads. With plenty of star power in the draft but their poor pick repertoire in recent memory has brought up the question… what is Houston’s future at quarterback? Davis Mills doesn’t seem to fit the bill, plus the Texans need a face of the franchise. Three options immediately jump out.
The obvious one of course being draft Bryce Young from Alabama. With the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans are in prime position to draft one of the highest rated quarterbacks to come out of Alabama and the SEC. Putting up impressive stats at Alabama, he’s had them top 10 every year he’s been there and throwing for 3,328 this past year. His arm talent is immeasurable, a high draft choice guarantee with a limitless ceiling. The Crimson Tide has had some hitters in the past couple of years after decades of obsolesce from their quarterback production.
Think Mac Jones and Jalen Hurts in recent memory. Most scouts have Young as a top-3 lock, and with the Bears having the number one overall pick and having their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future on the roster– it’d be unlikely they’d spring for a spur of the moment pass thrower. Young’s production hasn’t been an issue, rather his maturity on the football field. Scouts say he’s impulsive and has struggled against defenses that have contained his running ability.
He tends to escape the pocket early, even when there is little reason to and is well protected. A tactic that may have worked in college, but won’t in the ever-so hostile NFL. Young fits in with the Texan’s mantra of young players and the beginning stages of a draft and develop program. His play making ability will serve as an immediate catalyst to a tepid Texans offense and is a great choice for the Texans to build a solid team around. But, Young is the safe rookie– what if Houston needs a star?
Enter Will Levis. A rising star on some scouts draft boards, he hasn’t been talked about in the upper echelon of blue chip prospects like Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, instead he’s been met with some serious bipolarization.
Among the football community, Levis has been seen as a high-risk prospect with a high ceiling for potential. The Kentucky product has seen SEC competition, but huge draws have scouts pulling parallels with 2021 bust Zach Wilson. Levis has an uncanny similarity to Wilson down to the pre-draft speculation.
Wilson wasn’t regarded as a blue chip either, instead his senior season led to him skyrocketing up draft boards. Levis’ throwing motion and tangibles are all there. His size and stature makes him a savant of the game, and could be a boom or bust for Texans. If the Texans wanted a spark on offense with a stick of unsteady dynamite, Levis might be the choice. With the second pick though, we can’t see it happening, especially with the firing of Lovie Smith.
Houston’s new bona fide leader may want to play his cards safe pending his first full season in the city, especially with a decision as big as this.
First impressions are everything you know.
Another safe pick would be signing for a quarterback– perhaps Jimmy Garoppolo who is all but set to leave San Francisco amidst a quarterback dilemma. The 49ers have three capable QBs: Garoppolo, Purdy, and Lance, all of which are set to be quite the spectacle come offseason.
Jimmy G went down early in the season and has proven to be a great game manager. If the Texans can get enough firepower around Garoppolo, they could be a solid team and a force to reckon with.
The question now remains, what does the incoming head coach do with the Houston Texans to save them from an impending trainwreck?
