Texans wanted Kellen Mond, Vikings stole him in NFL Draft

The Texans, knowing they’d need quarterbacks in the wake of Deshaun Watson’s trade request, wanted Kellen Mond in the NFL Draft but didn’t get him.

Those damned Minnesota Vikings.

If it weren’t for Minnesota, Houston Texans fans might be talking about how former Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond could potentially become the next centerpiece around which general manager Nick Caserio could build.

And, hopefully, someone who’d make the likely departure of franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson a bit more digestible.

With Watson’s trade request earlier this offseason, it was no secret Caserio, limited on picks, wanted to grab a promising signal-caller at some point relatively early within the 2021 NFL Draft. As the reports go, Mond was fully on Houston’s radar, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press‘ Chris Tomasson:

Instead, the Vikings jumped in and grabbed Mond, the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl MVP, following a prior trade with the New York Jets that helped land the No. 66 overall pick.

On the surface, Minnesota didn’t necessarily need to go quarterback there. At least not with the veteran, Kirk Cousins, under center heading into 2021.

Related Story: Kellen Mond almost ended up with the Houston Texans

But Cousins could eventually be on the outs with the Vikings, and Mond arguably had the biggest upside out of any day-two quarterbacks expected to be selected during the draft.

At least Texans fans can take solace in Davis Mills

One pick later, Caserio didn’t falter in his desire to grab a quarterback, settling on Stanford’s Davis Mills, who was another NFL Draft riser from being viewed as a likely day-three selection into someone considered an awfully safe bet in Round 3.

Mills has a tough road ahead of him.

While it’s not expected head coach David Culley will immediately insert Mills into the starting lineup — that job will go to the veteran, Tyrod Taylor — fans will be clamoring for Mills to get some field time as soon as Taylor starts struggling.

And considering all the offensive woes Houston is likely to face this season, those chants for Mills could begin sooner than later.

As far as the not-so-distant future is concerned, assuming Watson isn’t coming back, the Texans are strong candidates to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, meaning they’ll likely be targeting one of the top collegiate quarterbacks this year, perhaps someone in the mold of Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler or North Carolina’s Sam Howell.

Because of this, Mills will need to showcase all the reasons why he’s a perfect quarterback to build around, and that won’t be easy while looking up at Taylor and down the road at a likely signal-caller selection at the very beginning of next year’s draft.

For now, though, Mills helps give Houston fans a small bit of hope, potentially easing any discomfort in the wake of finding out Mond could have been the pick.

But if Mond eventually thrives in Minnesota, it’ll be just one more sting for Texans fans in a long line of stings.