Texans hypothetical trade sends QB Davis Mills to Broncos

The Houston Texans are no strangers to offseason trades.

Houston made three big ones during the first week of free agency. The Texans traded for running back Joe Mixon, traded away defensive tackle Maliek Collins and then traded out of the first round of the NFL draft.

And now, the 33rd Team’s Ian Valentino thinks Houston could make another trade. Valentino wrote that the Texans should trade quarterback Davis Mills to the Denver Broncos for a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick.

“The 26-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Denver Broncos are the only team in the league without a somewhat viable passer on the roster,” Valentino added. “Mills has been a below-average but respectable presence in 34 games. He doesn’t create high-end plays but avoids disastrous ones well enough. A conditional selection that maxes out as a fourth-round pick would allow Denver to be somewhat functional, even if a rookie doesn’t fall into their lap.”

This would be a low-risk, low-reward trade for Houston. Mills was a serviceable backup for C.J. Stroud in 2023 who threw two touchdowns in relief of Case Keenum in the Week 16 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Keenum earned the start over Mills for both of the games Stroud missed with a concussion and beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 15, so he’s already ahead of Mills in the depth chart.

The prospect of earning as high as a fourth for Mills would be enticing for general manager Nick Caserio. Mills likely won’t be re-signed in 2025, but his NFL experience in a backup capacity is valuable — for both Houston and another team.

Whether or not this actually manifests itself remains to be seen, though.