Trade rumors have come up regarding both of the Texans’ reserve quarterbacks. Davis Mills emerged as a potential exit candidate this offseason, following the Case Keenum signing. With Mills still with the team, Keenum has also come up.
The Patriots pursued Keenum late this summer, a move that would have reunited the ex-Texans UDFA and returning Pats OC Bill O’Brien. But the AFC East team soon went with Matt Corral via waivers. That partnership proved fleeting; Corral is already off the team, and Will Grier joins Bailey Zappe as a Mac Jones backup.
It is not known if New England made an offer, but Houston would prefer to keep the veteran backup. The Texans have informed teams they like Keenum as a C.J. Stroud mentor, per SI.com’s Albert Breer. Keenum’s mentorship of Stroud has pleased the Texans to the point they want to have him around throughout the Ohio State product’s rookie season.
A University of Houston alum who caught on with the Texans in 2013, Keenum started 10 games for the team over the next two seasons. He then embarked on one of this NFL period’s most noteworthy journeyman careers, venturing to St. Louis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Denver, Washington, Cleveland and Buffalo. The 64 career starts would make Keenum an attractive emergency option for a team in need. The Jets represent a logical suitor, but they have only contacted Colt McCoy and the recently retired Chad Henne in the wake of Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear.
The Texans gave Keenum a two-year, $6.25MM deal early in the legal tampering period. Keenum’s $4MM guarantee figure did not top the likes of Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett or Marcus Mariota for QB2 guarantees this offseason, but it did check in above Sam Darnold, Gardner Minshew, Cooper Rush and Teddy Bridgewater. Since Keenum was benched in Washington in 2019, he has primarily operated as a backup. He won both his starts with the Browns (in 2021) and has been a sought-after reserve since his midcareer starter run ceased.
Houston holding both Keenum and Mills (26 starts from 2021-22) does provide a bit of an opportunity for the rebuilding team ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline, as many other clubs cannot match the Texans’ backup surplus. Trade inquiries indeed came in just after teams cut their rosters to 53. This will be a team to watch as a potential seller, but for now, the 11th-year vet and 2021 third-round pick sit behind Stroud.
It makes sense to hold on to Keenum…if you’re dealing Mills. Mills is likely a good option as a backup, but Keenum’s experience is likely a bigger asset when it comes to backing up Stroud. It would make better sense to deal Mills, but you’d think that at least dealing one of the two should be in the cards here somewhere.
I don’t see the value of burying either Mills or Keenum at third on the depth chart. The only scenario where I as an uninformed observer can think of is if Keenum has told the staff that he’s retiring and considers this a player/coaching arrangement ala Brian Hoyer. I highly doubt that it’s that type of scenario, so a deal for one of the backups makes sense. Perhaps Houston is concerned over the possibility that a 49ers scenario will tear its head; thing is, the 9ers only got into that scenario by going multiple weeks without making sufficient moves to back up their then backup (Purdy) who already stepping in for an injured starter to begin with. I don’t think that you need three valuable quarterbacks that someone may trade for (this is a key caveat, of course) if your starter is still healthy.
No one wants Mills and Houston thinks Keenum helps mentor Stroud and doesn’t want to trade him.
I said the second part, yes. The first is probably true, but given what Mills has already done, I find it very plausible that a team would trade for him, but perhaps at a price that is unpalatable to Houston. During the offseason, there were several rumors that Houston had rebuffed trade interest in Mills, which may or may not have been true. Trading Mills seems like the optimal outcome for the Texans right now, because retaining all three QBs seems like a waste of resources if someone would want the third man out.
Keeping Mills around makes no sense with the selection of Stroud in the draft, especially with all the other position needs on the Texans.
Except the length of the season (greater risk of injury) and his knowledge of the playbook at this point in the season. Cheap insurance…
If C.J. Stroud faceplants or gets injured Davis Mills is a known commodity – a potential mid-tier starter, à la Derek Carr, Ryan Tannehill or Daniel Jones. No wonder the Texans want to keep Mills, he’s definitely a decent backup plan to save the GM’s job.