Veteran Texans QB Already Being Overshadowed by New Arrival

The Houston Texans have had some obvious hurdles to clear this offseason following the 2024 campaign, which saw the organization win another AFC South division title yet fall short of the ultimate goal.

Houston wasn't ready to compete for a Lombardi Trophy, though they might be now. C.J. Stroud looks like one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, suggesting there's a path for the Texans to fight for the AFC conference title.

That said, another one of the organization's signal-callers is already being outshone by a recent draft pick that could take over his job.

Texans QB Graham Mertz Overshadowing Veteran Houston Signal-Caller

It hasn't taken rookie QB Graham Mertz long to make an impact in Houston.

A 2025 NFL sixth-round pick out of Florida, the Kansas City, MO, native had an underwhelming college career after being heralded as one of the best quarterback prospects in his draft class.

Mertz is a good player, though he dealt with injuries at Wisconsin prior to his transfer and never delivered on the promise he showed as a high school athlete. Even still, he has a strong argument that he should be the organization's third-string QB ahead of Kedon Slovis.

The latter has never appeared in an NFL game and isn't expected to make an impact, which gives Mertz an opportunity. Houston didn't want to let Slovis suit up, which speaks volumes to how head coach DeMeco Ryans and the rest of the staff views him.

In all likiehood, the franchise will only keep three quarterbacks. Stroud and Davis Mills have the top two spots on the depth chart locked down, though Mertz and Slovis are competing for that final position. Mertz likely has the leg up based on draft position, yet it's still possible that training camp changes that scenario.

We'll see what happens in the next two months, but the third-string signal caller battle is one that Texans fans need to watch.

More Houston Texans News and Rumors: