David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
The Houston Texans look to be much improved from their abysmal 2-14 season last year. With arguably the best defender in the NFL in J.J. Watt, and a solid set of offensive skill players led by Andre Johnson and Arian Foster, the pieces are there for the Texans to surprise some people this season.
The only major question regarding the Texans is at the quarterback position where Ryan Fitzpatrick is slated to be the starter. Help looks to be on the way as the Texans have traded for Patriots backup QB Ryan Mallett according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport:
Ryan Mallett has been traded to the #Texans, source says
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2014
The Texans gave up only a conditional seventh-round pick in 2016 for the quarterback. The acquisition of Mallett means that the team will be parting ways with Case Keenum, who was fighting for the backup QB job with rookie Tom Savage.
Mallett has been linked as a possibility for the Texans ever since they hired Bill O’Brien as their head coach this off-season. O’Brien was the quarterbacks coach with the Patriots when the team first drafted Mallett.
Being the backup to Tom Brady means that Mallett has had very little time to show what he can do in the regular season. He has only attempted four passes in his career. But the Texans have a history of bringing in backups and having them prosper in Houston.
Matt Schaub was a promising backup in Atlanta before the Texans traded for him to be their starter. Schaub would quarterback the team for seven seasons, leading the Texans to their only two playoff wins in franchise history. If Mallett is able to bring the same success the Texans would be more than satisfied.
