Texans 'in the mix' for Garoppolo, Mayfield after draft?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Texans could 'be in the mix' for Jimmy Garoppolo, Baker Mayfield after NFL Draft?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/28/22

Throughout the winter and spring months, new Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith has repeatedly told anybody who will listen that 2021 rookie and third-round draft pick Davis Mills will be his starting quarterback for the upcoming season. Just this week, Smith insisted the Texans "feel good about our quarterback room right now — leading off with Davis Mills."

Not everybody is convinced Mills is going to share that room only with former Washington Commanders quarterback Kyle Allen and journeyman Jeff Driskel later this year.

According to The Athletic's Jeff Howe, the Texans could "be in the mix for" San Francisco 49ers veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and/or former Cleveland Browns starter Baker Mayfield following the draft that gets underway on Thursday night:

The Texans do like Davis Mills, but I'd expect them be in the mix for Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield after the draft. Doesn't sound like either QB has gotten close to getting traded yet, but the Texans, Seahawks and Panthers should stay involved, pending their draft outcomes.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 28, 2022

The Texans traded star signal-caller Deshaun Watson to the Browns last month and presumably didn't want Mayfield in return at that time. It's possible, though, that Houston believes it can now land Mayfield and an additional draft asset because the 2018 first overall draft choice is owed $18.858 million of fully guaranteed salary for 2022 and remains attached to Cleveland. The Texans could also be among a "handful" of teams hoping Mayfield could either be had for a third-day draft pick or as a free agent if he's released after the player-selection process ends this weekend.

Garoppolo could soon be replaced atop the San Francisco depth chart by 2021 rookie Trey Lance, but the 30-year-old is still recovering from the March surgery he underwent to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder. While Garoppolo recently declared he'll "absolutely" be 100% by the start of the 2022 campaign, it's assumed he won't resume throwing before late June and, thus, couldn't pass a club physical at this time.

More must-reads: