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A look ahead to 2022, DB questions & more... | Dear Drew

Got a question about the Texans? Life in general? Drew Dougherty's your guy. He's been with the Texans since 2009 and is chock full of meaningful, as well as generally useless, information. Fire away by clicking HERE!

Mike Henry: Dear Drew, Will Davis Mills be the starter next year?
DD: Mike, nothing is set in stone, but he's clearly the guy to beat for right now. He's steadily made progress throughout the season and has impressed his teammates and coaches with his arm, smarts and improved decision-making. He's completed 65.6 percent of his passes, and he's thrown 10 touchdowns and nine picks. Mills has started the last couple games impressively, with 14 straight completions versus Seattle at the outset and then he connected on 11 of his first 12 passes at Jacksonville. When a team's won just three games by Christmas, I'm not sure you can ever guarantee any one player, regardless of position, will definitely start the following season, but starter or not, he's part of the future.

Mark The Bobble Texan: Dear Drew, Who are your top MVP candidates for this year's team and why? Also, who is your rookie of the year?
DD: Merry Christmas, Mark. For MVP, I'd have to go with WR Brandin Cooks. He's been incredibly productive and explosive, and he's been a real leader off the field as well. It's a major bummer he's on the Reserve/COVID-19 List right now, as he's just 55 yards shy of 1,000 for the season.

For rookie of the year, I'd go with DL Roy Lopez on defense and Mills on offense. Mills was pressed into duty earlier than expected and showed some progress over the course of the season. Lopez, meanwhile, made plays upon his arrival here back in May. That carried over to the preseason and regular season, and he's been a fixture in the starting lineup since Week 2.

Leonard Garza, Dear Drew, Will we draft a RB in this Draft and if so, in what round?
DD: I could see the Texans drafting a running back, yes. If they did, I think any round outside of the first is when they'd do it.

German Texan: Dear Drew, What do you think about DB Tavierre Thomas?
DD: I think he's been an important part of this defense in 2021. From Week 4 onward, he's played anywhere from 31 snaps per game on the low end of the spectrum to a season-high 68 snaps in the win at Tennessee. He's averaged just over 46 snaps per game, which means the defensive back is in for about 60 percent of the game on defense. Last Sunday, he logged a career-best 11 tackles at Jacksonville. Thomas has been solid for this defense.

Charles Smith: Dear Drew, Has Jeff Driskel really been converted to a tight end? Will he actually ever play tight end and no longer backup quarterback?
DD: Before he went on IR this week with a shoulder/collar bone injury, yes, the Texans converted him to tight end. Had he not been on IR, I suppose he would remain the team's third/emergency quarterback.

See Texans host the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday at noon CT inside NRG Stadium. Click here for tickets.

Check out the best photos from the Texans win in Week 15 over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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