Was Kellen Mond the Texans’ original QB draft target?

The Houston Texans have taken a lot of heat for making quarterback Davis Mills their first selection of the 2021 NFL Draft at No. 67. But is it possible their original target was drafted one spot ahead of Mills?

Vikings beat Texans to the punch on draft day?

Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reports that’s exactly what happened. While the Texans reportedly planned to draft San Antonio native Kellen Mond from Texas A&M with their top pick, he never made it that far.

“(There was a) phone call from his agent, text message, and the agent said, ‘Hey, the Houston Texans are getting ready to select (Mond) at pick 67,’ ” Mond’s father, Kevin, said. “So, we’re sitting (at the San Antonio family home) on the couch and (Mond) gets the phone call a couple of minutes later and it’s a team.

“Then, when he hung up the phone, he goes, ‘I’m going to the Vikings.’ The Texans had already told his agent they’re getting ready to take him at pick 67. The Vikings happened to have the pick 66.”

Perhaps if the Texans had selected Mond, the former Texas A&M Aggie would’ve had a chance to compete for a starting role. Instead, the Minnesota Vikings had plans for Mond to be their backup behind Kirk Cousins.

Neither situation is particularly ideal, but that’s the life as a backup quarterback in the NFL. In Minnesota, Mond will have to scratch and claw his way into the starting lineup. The Vikings appear to have a young stable of weapons at Mond’s disposal.