The Texans seem to be preparing for a world without Deshaun Watson.
Allegations of sexual assault and misconduct have seemingly halted the passer's career, with nearly two dozen women having come forward over the past several months.
While Watson hasn't been suspended, his legal issues and desire to be traded from Houston have general manager Nick Caserio and the rest of the Texans' front office looking toward the future.
#Texans take QB Davis Mills. He joins Deshaun Watson, Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Finley as QBs on their roster.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 1, 2021
MORE: Every pick from the 2021 NFL Draft
In steps Davis Mills, selected by Houston in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Mills is widely considered to be a potential NFL quarterback, but he'll need work to get there.
Here's what you need to know about the potential next starting QB of the Texans:
Who is Davis Mills?
Mills, 22, is a Stanford product. He was largely projected to be in the second tier of the 2021 NFL Draft quarterback class, along with Texas A&M's Kellen Mond and Florida's Kyle Trask, so his third-round selection (67th overall) is right in line with where he should have gone.
There are obvious questions surrounding Watson's future, so Mills' first game appearance in a Texans uniform could come sooner rather than later. His readiness, though, is contingent on several things.
Mills has shown good arm strength and he has size (6-4, 225), but his lack of college tape and his injury history knocked him down draft boards. He was one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in 2017 and at one point was considered a better overall prospect than Tua Tagovailoa.
SN's Matt Lutovsky has Mills ranked ninth in his class of 10 draftable QBs. Lutovsky writes:
Mills saw playing time in just 12 games in his college career, so to say he's a project is a bit of an understatement. The 6-4, 217-pounder reportedly had a great pro day, though, which included a 4.58 unofficial 40-yard dash time. Given his size, athleticism, and accuracy (65.5 percent completion percentage) while playing in a pro-style offense, Mills is the type of Day 2 or Day 3 draft pick who could develop into a solid player in a few years.
Mills had a knee injury that could affect his NFL future, but should he develop at the pro level, the Texans may have gotten themselves a solid starter.
