With a pronounced lack of quarterback depth coming his way in the 2015 NFL Draft, Bill O'Brien is looking at a crowded competition this summer to find his 2015 starter.
Houston still has Ryan Fitzpatrick under contract for another season, and fourth-round pick Tom Savage also returns. Case Keenum played well and will be an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason. Early favorite Ryan Mallett will need to be re-signed to a new deal altogether.
"We feel like we have some good guys here in the building that played well for us this year in Mallett, Fitzy (Fitzpatrick), and Case Keenum," O'Brien told the Texans' website. "We've got some guys right here and we know there are guys out there. We know, especially as Mallett here as a free agent, we understand that. So, we're still in the process of evaluating our guys. We are in the process of evaluating what's out there and I believe, at the end of the day, we'll make a good decision for the Houston Texans."
He added: "We'll make the right decision and it will probably be a competition. It will be something where guys come in and compete and have to win the job and that's the way it should be and that's what we're looking to do."
As solid as Fitzpatrick has been throughout his career, O'Brien is going to have a difficult time selling him as his opening day starter next season. At the least, Mallett has the appearance of a quarterback with untapped potential.
Of course, all of this could have been avoided if Houston was interested in trading up just one spot in last year's draft to nab Teddy Bridgewater, who ended up being by far the most productive rookie quarterback in 2014.
Instead, we'll wait to see who emerges from a massive competition during training camp.
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