Davis Mills Tops Deshaun Watson in New QB Rankings

At NRG Stadium in Houston, Davis Mills remains a low-cost backup on a contract worth about $7 million, but a new NFL ranking gave him a surprising edge over a much bigger name. An analyst recently slotted the Texans quarterback ahead of former Texans star Deshaun Watson, stirring up a fresh round of debate around two passers whose careers have moved in different directions.

Mills is no longer competing to be the face of the franchise. That job belongs to C.J. Stroud. Still, the ranking matters because it reflects how league observers now view reliability, value, and recent performance. For Texans followers, that is a notable shift given Watson's history in Houston and the expectations that once followed him.

Davis Mills gets the nod in the latest QB rankings

The ranking highlighted Mills over Watson despite the gap in name recognition and career earnings. Mills entered the NFL as a third-round pick and has spent the last year in a reserve role behind Stroud. His current deal with Houston has made him one of the more affordable veteran backup options in the league.

Watson, on the other hand, carries a far different profile. He left Houston after his standoff with the Texans and later landed in Cleveland on a fully guaranteed deal that drew national attention. Since then, injuries and uneven play have hurt his standing. That context appears to have influenced the analyst's decision to place Mills higher.

Mills has never been ranked with the elite starters, and this was not a claim that he is a franchise centerpiece. The point was narrower. He has offered steadier value in his current role, while Watson's recent body of work has fallen short of his salary and reputation.

Why the comparison still hits home in Houston

The Texans spent years trying to reset the roster and the quarterback room after Watson's exit. Mills was part of that bridge period, starting games during a turbulent chapter for the franchise. He did not lock down the long-term job, but he helped carry the team until Houston found its next answer with Stroud.

That history gives this ranking a little extra bite locally. Watson was once the centerpiece of the Texans. Mills was often framed as a stopgap. Seeing the order reversed, even on one analyst's list, says plenty about where both players stand entering the new season.

Houston's quarterback hierarchy is settled now, with Mills backing up Stroud, but rankings like this still offer a snapshot of how quickly NFL reputations can change. Training camp and preseason reps will shape the next round of evaluations, especially for backup quarterbacks trying to hold roster value across the league.

This article is a summary of reporting by Heavy. Read the full story here.