Texans' Davis Mills ranked just outside top 10 among backup QBs

While Davis Mills likely isn’t a full-time starter in the NFL, there are worse options to call a backup to Houston Texans‘ Pro Bowler C.J. Stroud entering 2026.

Mills, the first pick of the Nick Caserio era, has filled in over the past three seasons. Last year, after Stroud suffered a concussion in Week 9, Mills took over for three games and was impressive, throwing for over 800 yards with five touchdowns and only one interception. He also scored the game-winning touchdown on an 18-yard scamper against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

But where does he rank among backups in the league? According to SI.com’s Gilbert Manzano, Mills is right outside the top 10, coming in at No. 11.

“Mills is a quality game manager who stepped up last year to win three games while C.J. Stroud was sidelined with a concussion,” Manzano wrote. “Many forget that Mills was the starter in Houston before Stroud arrived as the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft. It says plenty that the Texans have made it a priority to keep him around, even after demoting him with Stroud’s arrival.”

Advertisement

“Mills is a quality game manager who stepped up last year to win three games while C.J. Stroud was sidelined with a concussion,” Manzano wrote. “Many forget that Mills was the starter in Houston before Stroud arrived as the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft. It says plenty that the Texans have made it a priority to keep him around, even after demoting him with Stroud’s arrival.”

Few people would pick Mills over Stroud permanently, but it’s nice to know Houston has a quality secondary option just in case things go south with the former No. 2 overall pick in a contract year.

To read the full list and see which pass is the top option as the best QB2 in the NFL, Texans' Davis Mills ranked just outside.