The New England Patriots being atop a rookie class ranking isn’t too surprising given quarterback Mac Jones’ success. However, the Houston Texans weren’t that far behind.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Texans were ranked as having the second-best rookie class in 2021.
Why they’re ranked here: The Texans benefit from the fact there weren’t really any expectations for their class because of how little draft capital they had at their disposal last offseason. Davis Mills finished the season ranked 30th among quarterbacks in PFF grade, but he still finished with roughly 0.7 wins above a replacement-level quarterback, which is a strong outcome for a third-round selection. Houston also got contributions from several later picks, such as Brevin Jordan, Nico Collins and Roy Lopez.
What helped sell the Texans was the quarterback play from Mills, who had a 123.5 passer rating on throws of 20 or more yards, which led all quarterbacks in 2021. Where PFF will drag Mills throughout the offseason is his turnover-worthy plays, which they count as 20. Mills only had 16 “big-time throws” in their grades throughout the 2021 campaign.
The high ranking of the draft class goes to show that general manager Nick Caserio’s method of using the Texans’ array of day three picks as trade packages to move into specific positions to take targeted players actually worked.
“I’d say when you look at the team, it’s really about competition and it’s about creating opportunities,” Caserio said after the 2021 draft on May 1. “The players are going to create their opportunities. We have to get them on the team, right, however they get them here, right, you draft them, you sign them in free agency, you trade for them, whatever the case may be. Then once they’re here, ultimately the competition is going to dictate who plays, who doesn’t play and what their role is.”
If the Texans can have the second-best draft class in 2022, when they have an assortment of top-100 picks, including No. 3 overall, it could catapult Houston back into vying for playoff spots.