5 backup quarterback pivots for Detroit Lions not named Teddy Bridgewater

1. Davis Mills (Houston Texans)

Mills has shown starter potential over two seasons with the Texans. He had the second-best passer rating among rookie signal callers in 2021 (88.5, behind only Mac Jones-92.5). He completed a nice 66.8 percent of his passes, with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 games (11 starts).

But Mills has never really felt like the long-term guy in Houston, amid a lot of losing and prime spots to take a quarterback high in the draft.

With the Texans fielding arguably the worst roster in the league, again, Mills had a broad drop-off last year. His passer rating dropped to 78.8, and he tied for the league-high with 15 interceptions over 15 starts.

Houston has committed to C.J. Stroud as their quarterback of the future after taking him in April's draft. Case Keenum was signed this offseason, seemingly with an eye on him being a veteran mentor to an incoming rookie. Which of course happened, leaving Mills possibly as the No. 3 guy on the depth chart heading into the season. Stroud being the starter right away is pretty much a foregone conclusion.

The Texans may want to keep Mills around, and that would be understandable. But a team with questions behind their starting quarterback, like the Lions, should be watching how things take shape in Houston. Mills could be a tradeable asset for them. In a Hendon Hooker-less vacuum, he would also be a sneaky candidate to be Detroit's future starting quarterback.