Graham Mertz was a leader on and off the field throughout his collegiate career with the Wisconsin Badgers and Florida Gators. After four seasons at Wisconsin, Mertz had high aspirations with the Gators, especially going into 2024. However, due to injuries, he played just five games in his final season in college.
This didn't stop the Houston Texans from selecting Mertz with the 197th overall pick in the 6th round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After suffering an injury that ended his time at Florida early, Mertz was given a second chance at reviving his career.
He made his NFL preseason debut on Saturday with the Texans, but things did not go his way.
Mertz played the final five offensive drives of the game for the Texans in their 20-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He went 7-for-14 through the air for 27 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He also carried the ball once for nine yards.
This was obviously not the professional debut that Mertz was looking for. Especially since it was the first time he had taken game reps since Oct. 12, 2024.
Coming into the preseason, Mertz was listed third on the Texans' depth chart for the quarterback position, behind C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills, and ahead of Kedon Slovis. In a battle for a roster spot, this debut did not help Mertz's chances of making the team.
The 6-foot-2, 216-pound quarterback played 50 games in his collegiate career between Wisconsin and Florida. He totaled over 9,000 yards passing with 64 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. His best year in college came with the Gators in 2023, when he threw for just under 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
This type of play is what got Mertz drafted by the Texans, as Florida and Houston fans alike hope he can get back to that form for the rest of the preseason.
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