Texans’ quarterback Davis Mills will soon find himself with an unprecedented amount of pressure.
The Houston Texans were likely pleased with the effort of quarterback Davis Mills last season. In 13 games, Mills totaled four of those games with 300 yards passing, which was two more than any of his other rookie class members. Along with that, he finished with 2,664 yards and 16 touchdowns.
However, the leash is very short in the NFL, and Mills may soon find that out.
With next year’s NFL Draft containing two top QB prospects, the Texans may end up with a difficult decision. Yet another four-win season could spell the end of Mills’ time in Houston.
That is why this year is so important for the second-year signal caller. But what type of season would justify giving Mills another shot? Simply put, Houston will need to see improvement in both wins and statistics for Mills.
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Yes, Mills did show real star potential with his 300-yard passing performances last season. He however, also showed bust potential in a number of other games, specifically the Buffalo game. That sort of fluctuation, while typical for a rookie quarterback, is one of the reasons Houston could move off of Mills if there isn’t improvement.
The other being a low win total. Now all of Houston’s struggles last year weren’t on Mills. The Texans were a bad team, simple as that. That said, Houston made an effort to improve their roster this offseason. Rookies like Kenyon Green (guard), John Metchie III (wide receiver), and Dameon Pierce (running back) should all provide a boost for Houston’s quarterback. Along with them, star left tackle Laremy Tunsil will return to bolster the offensive line. Now it’s on Mills to have success.
Texans: What are some fair expectations for Mills in 2022?
A fair stat expectation for the second-year QB sits around this: 3,700 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. That equates down to around 217 yards a game and 1.4 passing touchdowns per game. All very achievable with an improved roster.
As for wins, that gets a little more tricky. Houston still isn’t a great team. They do however, need to improve, and will likely be given the chance to this season.
The Texans’ schedule isn’t overly difficult by any means, ranking 19th in terms of difficulty. The magic number to keep Mills safe is seven wins, giving the Texans an overall record of 7-10 in ’22, which is an improvement from the past two seasons.
Now obviously other factors may come into play. If Mills dominates statistically, but Houston only finishes with five wins (unlikely, but not impossible), Houston may decide to give him one more chance. As for the contrary, if the Texans improve their win total but it’s in spite of Mills, they may decide it’s time to move on.
While the possibilities range, the only thing for certain is there’s going to be pressure on Davis Mills in 2022.