Davis Mills | Stanford 6’3” 217 lbs. 10/21/1998 (Age 22.5)
Davis Mills was drafted 67th overall by the Houston Texans, becoming the eighth quarterback selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
Davis Mills was ranked as the top overall quarterback in the class of 2017, ahead of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Mac Jones. Mills took over as the starting quarterback for Stanford as a true freshman. Mills accumulated just 3,468 passing yards and 18 TDs versus eight INTs in his four-year collegiate career at Stanford. Mills is strictly a pocket-passer and does not offer any threat on the ground for defenders.
Mills sustained an ACL tear prior to his senior season in high school, causing him to miss his entire freshman season at Stanford. He then injured his leg as a redshirt sophomore against Washington in 2019. Because of injuries, Mills started only 11 games as a college quarterback.
ATHLETIC TESTING
Davis Mills measured in at 6’3” and 211 lbs. This equates to a BMI of 26.59. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.8-seconds, while this isn’t blazing speed this is comparable to Daniel Jones (4.81) who has shown to be a capable rushing threat on plays that break down. Mills Leaped 32” in the vertical and 110” in the broad jump. He also ran the short shuttle in 4.4-seconds.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Below Average
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Above Average
Mills gets drafted by the Houston Texans as the Deshaun Watson saga plays out. Mills has the potential to be the starting quarterback on day one if Watson does also holds out or is unable to play. Mills was the top-rated quarterback in the 2017 class so he definitely has the pedigree. Mills will get a shot at starting early in his career with the information we currently have.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
Mills has a big, athletic frame and he moves smoothly through his progressions on the field. He has a nice spiral and has the touch to place the ball where it needs to be at every level of the field. He has functional mobility but does not threaten to take off and run. He lacks experience, with only 11 collegiate starts, and it shows in his lack of consistency. He can make anticipatory throws before the wide receivers break in their routes, but tends to get fixated on his primary target.
The two-year starter has clear red flags on his profile from injury history, to lack of experience, to bad decision making, but has the tools to become a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL if allowed time to learn behind a veteran. Mills is worth a dart throw in Superflex Rookie Drafts once we pass the mid-third round.
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