Bill O'Brien is officially the new head coach of the Houston Texans. After firing Gary Kubiak at the start of December, the team reached an agreement with the Penn State coach on Tuesday night. NFL Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed the news that the former New England Patriots coordinator would take over the vacant spot.
The hire makes sense. O'Brien inherited one of the most high-pressure coaching jobs in college when he took over Penn State following one of the publicized college football scandal that left the program filled with sanctions. He lead the team to as much success that he could, topping most expectations going 15-9 in two seasons. He is considered one of the top young offensive minds after working offensive jobs in New England while becoming their offensive coordinator in 2011.
So what is O'Brien's first move as head coach? After earning the title of "worst team in the league", the Texans are the owner of the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2014. Speaking on the Dan Patrick Show, Rapoport said the Texans are considering drafting a quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel will be the top targets. However, O'Brien could have another move up his sleeve.
Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallett has seen his name come up numerous times in trade talks and it is about that time they start circulating again. O'Brien was an assistant with the Patriots when Mallett was drafted to the team. While he did leave shortly after, the coach is well-aware of what the backup is capable of. Mallett has seen zero regular-season action playing behind Tom Brady, but is credited for having strong football knowledge and a cannon of an arm.
The Cleveland Browns could also be a likely destination for the quarterback if Josh McDaniels becomes the team's head coach. McDaniels has agreed to interview with the team on Saturday, but per NFL rules, cannot be hired until the Patriots season has come to a close. The current offensive coordinator knows exactly what Mallett brings to the table and could be interested in bringing him along.
A trade would work for either team, but be extremely favorable for the Texans. The team is already well-established with strong offensive pieces. Mallett could step in and be successful immediately. The team could avoid taking a quarterback with the top draft pick and grab someone in a later round. The Patriots would likely ask for a second-round draft pick in return which is not a bad deal for Houston.
It is really only a matter of time before Mallett heads elsewhere. While head coach Bill Belichick has always spoken in favor of the talented backup, Mallett could be destined for a starting job.