https://theathletic.com/3210826/2022/04/08/nfl-free-agency-news-intel/ Houston Texans For a year before trading Deshaun Watson, Texans GM Nick Caserio reportedly sought as compensation three first-round picks and two second-rounders. Houston wound up getting three firsts, one third and two fourths for Watson and a sixth, while also parting with $10 million in salary paid to Watson while he sat out last season. “I thought Houston handled it beautifully — great patience,” an exec said. “They hung in there. I give them a lot of credit for that. Good work by them.” The price for Watson could have fallen if teams felt too queasy about introducing as the face of their franchise someone who procured dozens of women for massages and then had many of those women sue him for alleged sexual assault. “They always thought they would get three ones,” another exec said of the Texans. “I don’t think they ever thought they would have a bidding war because Watson had a no-trade clause. But once Watson was willing to sell out to the highest bidder and not care about the football situation or his own personal situation, they got more leverage than they probably ever expected.” The Texans were in business once a Texas grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against Watson, even while civil suits remain unresolved. “Caserio did a nice job spinning the whole thing where you had to come to them and they will set the parameters for the guy with 22 allegations against him,” an exec said. “He showed them a large piece of pumice with flecks of gold in it and said, ‘We will tell you how much gold is in it, you can do a minimum amount of examination.’ And it worked.” Houston enters the 2022 draft holding the third and 13th picks, among others. Five years ago, the Texans acquired the 12th pick in the 2017 draft from Cleveland — and selected Watson in that slot. “They have a chance to build the next few years,” an exec said. “It’s great to have a bunch of picks, but eventually you gotta put a name next to them. They went cheap on the free agents, didn’t get any real difference maker. Now, it’s just time to build, and I think they are going to use the year to see if Davis Mills can play.”
In Caserio we trust. Really hoping Mills works out but wouldn’t mind CJ Stroud either. I have CJ over Bryce
Wasn't sure if this news belonged here or not but Garry Brown passed away. =( My favorite running back on the Oilers in 93/94. Seems like yesterday 97.9 the box had him on a song.
Same can be said about Alabama QBs so I guess we're screwed either way! Start that Davis Mills Excuse-A-Thon early!
Wouldn’t bother with him. Verbal will hate on Mills and Alp all day long with no patience. And at same time defend early season Green and all his struggles defiantly, preaching patience as much as possible. Has been harping for Stroud since early last year even when there were higher level recruits and talents behind him in Ewers. He was forced to compliment Mills because of his late season play and now it’s “excuses” He’s too obvious
The Texans traded Deshaun Watson to the Browns last month, but they otherwise stayed out of the swap meet that sent starters flying around the league at the start of the offseason. That leaves Davis Mills in line to start and nothing that head coach Lovie Smith said at the start of the team’s offseason program on Monday hinted at any second thoughts about going all in with the second-year player. Smith praised Mills for organizing workouts with his teammates over the last couple of months and working to recruit other players to come to Houston. Smith went on to say that he is a “believer” in what Mills will be able to do now that he has a professional season under his belt. “I believe in him, Pep Hamilton, second year in system, so many good things that he did. And that’s as a rookie. The improvement you see from year one to year two is normally a big improvement and that’s what we’re going to see from him,” Smith said. The Texans have five of the first 80 picks in this year’s draft and Smith’s comments suggest that they’ll be used to build a team around Mills rather than on creating competition at the position heading into the summer. https://sports.yahoo.com/lovie-smith-m-believer-davis-172533430.html my thoughts on this besides the usual is Lovie Smith being all in on Mills plus Mills organizing workouts tells me a lot. He really wants this opportunity and I’m glad of it…
They didn't want Baker, they didn't go after Garoppolo, they have not brought in Corral, Pickett or Willis, they re-signed Cooks...its clear they believe in Mills and will give him the opportunity and resources needed to succeed.
