Where does Raiders Derek Carr land in our complete AFC QB rankings?
Is Davis Mills more physically talented than the two rookies ranked above him? Certainly not. Does he have a brighter future? Very likely no. However, it would be hard to say he played worse football in 2021. A third-round pick of the Texans in the 2021 NFL Draft, Mills was expected to learn from the sideline while Tyrod Taylor filled in for Deshaun Watson.
Instead, Mills played thirteen games in his rookie season.
The numbers are not eye-popping at 2,664 yards, sixteen touchdowns, and ten interceptions but they are passable for a rookie not expected to play. Through the highs and lows of Mills’ season, his growth was evident. As was his talent as he showed the same affinity for the deep ball that he had at Stanford.
This was on full display in week eighteen against the Titans as he racked up 301 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Davis Mills certainly doesn’t feel like a starting NFL quarterback and he may not even be the starter in 2022. The ceiling is just simply not high enough. However, he has shown enough in the absence of Deshaun Watson to at least warrant a second look from the Houston front office. He will have a long NFL career as a backup at the very least.