Organized team activities (OTAs) began around the NFL on Monday; however, the Houston Texans weren't in on the action. DeMeco Ryans' team won't be opening OTAs until Wednesday, May 28, giving the Texans just over a week to make last-minute additions if they still aren't feeling fully confident in a certain positional group.
C.J. Stroud might be the Texans' starting quarterback for the next decade-plus, but that doesn't mean they should be content with the depth behind him. Davis Mills has shown that he's far from efficient under center, whereas rookie signal-callers Graham Mertz and Kedon Slovis are still unproven.
If Houston wants someone hungry to prove themselves behind Stroud, the perfect target is stewing in free agency.
Texans Must Sign QB Desmond Ridder Despite Draft Bust Label
Despite being labeled a "draft bust," the Texans should take a swing on free-agent QB Desmond Ridder. The former 2022 third-round pick is seeking a fresh start after failed runs with the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders.
Ridder hasn't lived up to his draft hype, but that doesn't mean he should be written off. He's only 25 years old and has shown flashes of potential throughout his brief career. Through 25 career appearances (18 starts), the ex-Cincinnati Bearcat has completed 63.6% of passes for 4,002 passing yards, 16 touchdowns (to 14 interceptions), and an 82.6 passer rating.
He's also 8-10 in his starts, compared to Mills, who's 5-19-1 and hasn't started a game since 2022. Additionally, the former 2021 Texans third-rounder only has a 56.6% completion rate and 78.2 passer rating in 25 games (15 starts) in the last three seasons alone.
Even if cracking the 53-man roster isn't guaranteed, Ridder's presence could at least be enough to motivate one of Mills, Mertz, or Slovis to take their game to a new level. Besides, a potential contract likely wouldn't break the bank given the current phase of the NFL offseason.
Injuries can pop up at any time once OTAs and training camp begin, and quarterbacks aren't an exception. With that in mind, whether it's to be the new QB2 or provide some offseason competition, the Texans must sign Ridder before another quarterback-hungry team beats them to the punch.