The Houston Texans have some major questions coming into the 2014 season and the biggest is at starting quarterback and while trade rumors with Ryan Mallett have not moved along yet, the team could turn to Tom Savage, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum or TJ Yates to start this year and that is one reason why Andre Johnson may be looking for a trade himself.
The Texans used Keenum and Matt Schaub last season, but after trading their original starter to the Oakland Raiders, they now have to decide whether the in-house names are good enough of if Bill O'Brien wants to go out and make a trade. Mallett and Kirk Cousins are names that have come up this offseason and both the Patriots and the Redskins could be interested in making a deal, but the Texans seemingly are comfortable with what they have right now.
Last season Keenum showed some flashes, but he is an undrafted free agent and played during a 14-game losing streak, so it's not like he is the second coming of Tom Brady. Speaking of Tom Brady, that's one reason why Mallett could be available, as the Patriots selected Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round and now he looks to be the future backup and starter. Garoppolo has great stats from college and the Pats did not pick him just to hold a clipboard and with Mallett coming into the last year of his deal, a move makes too much sense.
The Texans may wait on Savage and use a combo of Keenum and Fitzpatrick and that could be good enough for a so-so team, but that is not a contender. The team used the 135th pick in the draft on Savage and while he has some skills and size at 6-4 and 228 pounds, he has jumped around in his college career and doesn't have as much experience as some other players. Last season he had nearly 3,000 yards and was the fifth best passer in Pitt history, but he is in the NFL now and O'Brien needs to turn things around quickly after taking Jadeveon Clowney number one.
Andre Johnson has been upset with the way the team has handled the QB situation, as he is coming into the latter stages of his career and wants to win. Johnson thought the team was on the cusp of being a contender last season before it turned into a disaster and now he could be on his way out. Savage is a nice future option and Fitz could be a place holder and while Mallett isn't Tom Brady either, he could be a solid starter for the team. Cousins fits in the same boat and he has more experience than Mallett after playing for RG3.
The Texans have some major questions and a Ryan Mallett deal is still being talked about, but either way, the d line will be fine, as they now have JJ Watt and Clowney together. The defense will be stronger and O'Brien knows how to work with QBs after coaching Tom Brady for years.