Caserio plans to add two quarterbacks
INDIANAPOLIS — General manager Nick Caserio made clear Tuesday at the NFL combine that the Texans will add two quarterbacks to their roster for the 2023 season.
He said the Texans are considering all options, including drafting one with the No. 2 overall pick.
Davis Mills is the only quarterback under contract, and after the Texans finished 3-13-1 with one of the worst offenses in the league last season, it became clear they needed an upgrade.
“It’s probably going to be a combination of draft (and) free agency. Could be two (via the) draft,” Caserio said. “We’re going to look at whatever resource we have available to us and try to make the right decision. But really, it’s about the total teambuilding process. It’s not about one position. We’re going to be very thoughtful and take our time, try to make good decisions all throughout the spring.”
The Texans have the No. 2 and No. 12 picks in the first round of this year’s draft and are expected to use the second pick on a quarterback. The top three quarterbacks in the draft are Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Kentucky’s Will Levis.
Florida’s Anthony Richardson, who might be available at No. 12, is also a name to watch. Draft experts and scouts are split on where he fits in the draft, with some having him as high as the top 10 and others saying he should be picked after the first round.
Richardson, Stroud and Levis are expected to throw at the combine later this week and could boost their stock. Young will not throw but will participate in interviews with teams.
“They are all different,” Caserio said of the quarterbacks. “We know who the players are. There are plenty of opportunities to evaluate them. We take that evaluation and combine what we’ll find out in the spring and ultimately have a profile of a player.”
Mills started 15 games for the Texans during his second season in 2022. He was benched halfway through the year in favor of Kyle Allen after struggling with turnovers. But Allen was bad too, and Mills returned to the starting lineup after two games on the bench.
He finished the season with 3,118 yards passing, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also lost three fumbles.
When asked in January how he’d feel if the Texans drafted a quarterback, Mills said he planned to compete for the starting job.
“I’m just going to put my head down and get down to work regardless of what happens,” Mills said. “But like I said, I hope I proved enough throughout the season. I want to continue getting better as a football player, and I know my best football is ahead of me.”
The Texans, who haven’t had a winning season since 2019, hired former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as head coach in January to turn things around. At his introductory news conference, Ryans said his plan is to add to the quarterback room, but he did not go into specifics.
Ryans will address the media Wednesday.
If the Texans were to add a quarterback in free agency, one name to watch is former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo was with Ryans and new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik in San Francisco, and he started his career in New England when Caserio was director of player personnel there.
Veterans Derek Carr, Carson Wentz and Jacoby Brissett are other notable free agents.
Caserio maintained that all options are on the table, including trading up to the No. 1 spot, which belongs to the Chicago Bears. But he added that the Texans also will be looking at positions besides quarterback.
“It’s not about one player. It’s not about one position. It’s about building a good team,” Caserio said. “And if have a good team, that gives you the best chance to go out there Sunday and have some success.”