C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills, Houston Texans
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Davis Mills #10 and C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans embrace on the field after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.
The Houston Texans shut down trade talk around C.J. Stroud in no uncertain terms. But there is also trade interest in Davis Mills, and there could be a prime landing spot for him to claim a starting role.
Mills stepped in for Stroud this past season.
That, plus his potential availability, has him positioned as a potential trade target for other teams and a candidate for the Texans.
Proposed Trade Sends Texans QB to Jets
Davis Mills, Houston Texans
GettyDavis Mills #10 of the Houston Texans looks on after the game against the Buffalo Bills.
The Texans selected Mills, who turns 28 in October, with the No. 67 overall pick of the 2021 draft. He started 26 of 28 games played over his first two seasons before the Texans drafted Stroud second overall in 2023.
Mills received an extension last year, but he is again entering the final year of his contract.
This Heavy Sports trade proposal would send Mills to the New York Jets for draft capital rather than allowing him to leave in free agency next offseason.
Texans get:
Conditional 2026 third-round pick
Jets get:
Davis Mills
The Texans could try leveraging Mills to swap first-rounders with the Jets, who own two picks in the draft’s opening salvo. However, that is a lofty proposition with New York picking second and 12th overall, with the latter slot being the more realistic of the two.
Still, there has been plenty of smoke around Mills to the Jets in a trade.
It also makes sense for the Texans to get something for Mills, whom they could replace behind Stroud with 2025 sixth-round pick Graham Mertz, instead of him leaving for nothing in 2027.
They are committed to Stroud for this season, with a fifth-year option decision looming in May that could further delay a decision. Stroud’s future beyond 2026 remains up in the air, but that is a long way from the Texans committing to Mills over him.
Davis Mills Linked to Jets
Davis Mills, Houston Texans
GettyDavis Mills #10 of the Houston Texans is interviewed following the 36-29 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Essentially Sports’ Tony Pauline reported on the murmurs regarding Mills and a potential Texans trade candidate this offseason. Not because the Texans are necessarily actively looking to move on from their 2021 third-round pick.
Instead, they could receive an offer for Mills that they cannot pass up.
“After last year’s failure at quarterback, the Jets are once again in the market for a starting signal caller to compete with or replace Justin Fields,” Pauline wrote on February 24. “People in the league tell me if general manager Darren Mougey gets his way, the Jets will look to bring in a less-expensive signal caller, and two names keep entering the conversation: Tanner McKee and Davis Mills.
“Mills, a third-round pick in 2021, has started 29 games in his career, 26 of which came during his first two seasons with the Houston Texans. The five-year veteran impressed a lot of people filling in for an injured CJ Stroud last season, winning the three games he started, and people tell me Mougey has mentioned Mills on several occasions.”
McKee, a former Stanford Cardinal QB like Mills, is far less experienced than the former Texans starter. However, both have been consistent speculative options for the Jets.
“Those are a couple guys I’d be curious about taking a flyer on for a year if you can trade a mid-round pick,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah told reporters during a conference call, per NFL.com’s Dan Parr on February 19.”
There has been speculation that Mills could attract attention elsewhere around the league, too.
Davis Mills Decision Looms Large
Davis Mills, Houston Texans
GettyDavis Mills #10 of the Houston Texans runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers.
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak doubted the Texans would move Mills, given the seeming uncertainty around Stroud, but noted the Miami Dolphins could be a suitor.
“Perhaps a strong offer could entice them to deal Mills,” Solak wrote on February 10. “His old offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik, now coaches the Dolphins’ offense; Miami would need a new quarterback if it flips [Tua] Tagovailoa.”
This offseason could still see the Texans trade a QB, but Mills rather than Stroud.