You won’t find the Houston Texans at the top of many power rankings ahead of Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. In fact, most talking heads project them to finish last in the AFC South but this isn’t precisely breaking news. After all, the Texans are coming off a 4-13 season and are currently in the early stages of a rebuild, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them once again pick in the top 5 of the draft next year.
Having said that, Houston has a few talented pieces in place and precisely because the bar is set so low, they could end up exceeding expectations in 2022. And here are three reasons why they might do precisely that.
3. Houston Texans HC Lovie Smith has a solid track record
David Culley did an admirable job coaching the Texans in 2021, especially when you take into account that he inherited a mess at the quarterback position and a roster devoid of talent. That he was able to lead Houston to four wins is kind of impressive in retrospect. Nevertheless, he was just a temporary fixture and was given the boot after the conclusion of the season.
While the Texans flirted with the idea of hiring Josh McCown to fill their head-coaching vacancy, they ultimately gave the job to Lovie Smith, who has a proven track record and experience at the position.
Smith left Illinois with a subpar 17-39 record and his two-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t go well. However, he guided the Chicago Bears to two NFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance. Moreover, he was responsible for often fielding top 10 defenses during his stint in the Windy City.
Sure, that was more than 10 years ago but Smith is the kind of head coach that will find a way to get the most out of his players and is always ready to play on Sundays. It won’t be any different in H-Town.
2. The Houston Texans’ rookie class has plenty of upside
Draft picks are as good as the team that holds them. What’s the point of having a selection in the top 10 if you aren’t adept at identifying talent? Fortunately for the Texans, it looks like they got the right man to oversee their personnel decisions in Nick Caserio.
Even though Caserio was dealt a bad hand when he took over, he’s done his best to purge Houston’s roster of underachieving or expensive players since taking over. While there’s still plenty of work left, the general manager might have hit it out of the ballpark in this year’s draft.
The Texans had nine picks, four in the top 50 in this year’s selection meeting and there could be as many as four rookie starters in their lineup in Week 1. Wide receiver John Mitchie III, one of their two second-round choices, will miss the year after being diagnosed with APL (a type of Leukemia). On the bright side, it’s one of the most curable kinds and there’s a good chance he will beat it.
But even without Metchie, the Texans’ 2022 class looks good. Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (No. 3 overall) is ready to roll and so is guard Kenyon Green, who dealt with a concussion not long ago but is back in the fold. Both Stingley and Green are slated to take on big roles in 2022. Similarly, safety Jalen Pitre — the Texans’ other second-rounder — will give Lovie Smith, who will moonlight as Houston’s defensive coordinator, a movable chess piece.
Last but not least is running back Dameon Pierce, who showed out in the offseason and is set to become a key cog in the Texans’ offense. While you don’t want to see many rookies in featured roles from Day 1, Houston doesn’t have many alternatives and this could turn out to best as they will be able to gain valuable experience right off the bat.
1. Davis Mills could be the long-term answer at QB for the Houston Texans
Talent alone won’t cut it in the NFL. You must possess discipline, determination, and the willingness to put in hours of film study. Also, having a lucky break is often necessary, which is precisely how Davis Mills joined the Texans’ starting lineup last season.
Had Tyrod Taylor not suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2, Mills might not have gotten a shot to start against the Carolina Panthers the following week. He ended up completing more than 66 percent of his passes for 2,664 yards with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year. While those numbers don’t pop off the stat sheet, the former Stanford Cardinal did a solid job all things considered.
For starters, his supporting cast was less than stellar and his only true weapon was wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Moreover, the Texans’ running game was basically nonexistent, which forced the rookie quarterback to carry the team on his shoulders. With one year of experience under his belt and a bit more (but not a lot) talent around him, the sophomore signal-caller should make a leap in 2022.
Mills has an uphill battle to prove he’s the long-term answer at quarterback for the Texans. However, he could benefit from the lack of expectation surrounding him and make it difficult for the team’s brass to bring someone else to take his place next year.