QB1 appears set, but the future for the QB2/3 spots…
With the draft just a week away, the Texans find themselves in a somewhat enviable position. They have confidence that they have all of the big positions locked up, like franchise QB, top pass rusher, Left Tackle, receiving talent at WR and TE, and while they are not teaming with All-Pros at EVERY position, they would appear to have done enough between previous draft picks and current free agency to at least mitigate any perceived weaknesses. At this point, what exactly does that leave for Houston to do in the draft? Are they complete? Nope. Still plenty of areas that 9 draft picks (at least before the Caserio wheelin’ and dealin’ machine kicks into gear) can assist. More talent/depth along the OL (especially if Tytus Howard continues to have health issues and Kenyon Green doesn’t drastically improve), DB depth (some good pieces, but can never have too many good corners/safeties in this day and age), DL depth (even with all the recent free agency moves, a well-stocked DL is critical to any defensive/team success), more LB and RB talent (see previous justification).
Yet, in this draft, perhaps one area that could use some attention is the backup QB slot. if this past season taught the league anything, it is that you probably need to have some depth at QB, or at least a backup option that you feel that you can turn to for a couple of games. Houston experienced that scenario last season when Stroud lost two games due to concussion. The options were Davis Mills and Case Keenum. While the team went 1-1, the results from the QB spot were not exactly confidence inspiring.
Since the off-season, the only move the team has made related to the QB position is signing Tim Boyle, recently from the Jets and Hail-Mary-Pick-Six fame. Is he enough to supplant Mills and/or Keenum? Maybe not. Is he a future backup option? Well…uh…er…TBD.
Enter the draft. While other positions will be of more focus/concern for Caserio, if the Texans get deep into Day 3, and they haven’t already sacrificed their four 6th/7th round picks to trades, what to do with those? Sure, more depth/talent options for the aforementioned positions is the likely thought. Yet, why not consider a 6th or 7th round pick on a potential QB prospect? If anyone knows the value of a 6th round QB prospect, it is Nick Caserio. Also, while many a 6th/7th rounder becomes nothing, there are those that do manage to evolve into something [Brock Purdy enters the chat].
What would be the advantage? Should a QB that late in the draft catch the eye of the coaches/GM, and stick with the organization after training camp, then you have a potential backup on a rookie deal ready and able to step in should something happen to Stroud for a couple of games. A player with a year to just sit and learn the system with no pressure to perform immediately can’t hurt. For the team, a lower draft pick is a relatively low-risk proposition. Yet, to have some degree of depth continuity at QB coming into the 2025 season will not be a bad thing. With the Texans not likely to have near as much cap space next season, and facing the prospect of new deals for Collins along with other players, a cheap backup QB options is appealing.
Who could the Texans consider as a backup in the draft? Trying to map out exactly who will be available in the late rounds of the draft is the art of the impossible. The Texans may not even have many picks available at that point. Still, it is worth considering, especially if any of the prospects rate highly on the Texans’ draft board at that point in the process. A few names:
- Joe Milton: A QB with his measurables may be off the board by the later rounds. Yet, if playing QB was all about measurables, Milton would be a shoe-in 1st rounder. There’s a reason he couldn’t hold a starting job at Michigan and lost the initial starting job at Tennessee to Hendon Hooker. He did start for the Vols in his final season, and showcased the good (arm strength and moving the offense) with the bad (inconsistency, especially on intermediate routes). Would the Texans be the squad that does what couldn’t be done in college and allow some of the that inconsistency to disappear? Possible, especially if he comes in as project.
- Sam Hartman: Another QB with plenty of college experience, he parlayed a fairly successful stint at Wake Forest into a season at Notre Dame. However, injuries and offensive limitations revealed the ceiling for this one-time heralded transfer. Might be worth a Day 3 pick to sit and and see if he can evolve into a backup option
- Kedon Slovis: The one-time next great USC prospect, this is another well-travelled QB, logging snaps at 3 schools (USC, Pitt, BYU). His best statistical season was his first (2019). However, like the others, his limitations drove him out of his original school and it might be a crap-shoot to see if he gets drafted. Still, if around in the 7th, and Houston wants to take a chance, maybe it can work.
- Taulia Tagovailoa: At least people have plenty of experience pronouncing the last name, as his brother is already in the NFL in Miami. Tagovailoa initially entered the transfer portal after 4 seasons at Maryland, only to then decide to go into the NFL draft. He had his moments at Maryland and was the focal point of the offense. However, Maryland never broke through in a brutal Big Ten and the measurables are not at the same level as his brother. He also might be gone before the Texans would look at him, but if he fell into the 6th and Houston didn’t make any trades, this could be an intriguing prospect.
Of course, the Texans could just wait until the UDFA madness kicks off after the draft closes. While the team has 4 QBs on the roster, perhaps one of the above players or another arm is brought in. While UDFA are UDFAs for a reason, perhaps you do find a diamond in the rough that can evolve into that dependable backup option.
Again, the end game is not to draft the next great franchise QB. That is already done. However, the next solid backup option for Houston that won’t bust the cap can be had here. A problem solved today is one less headache tomorrow. Or, the team could stand pat at QB, go with those three non-Stroud players, letting them duel it out in camp to determine who becomes QB2. That might only answer the question for one season, and the team will have to face this question yet again in the 2025 off-season.
What say you, citizens of the interwebs? Think Houston should look for a future backup QB in the draft? Let your (respectful) takes be heard below.
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