There is no secret that the Houston Texans offseason should start with the one player who is going to touch the ball the most in 2015, the quarterback. The Texans focus should be on Ryan Mallett for the coming season and the near future.

This is not breaking news, but Mallett is the key for what the Texans want to do as a franchise. Mallett has a small snapshot of what he can do as a starting quarterback before his season was ended with a torn pectoral on his throwing side. Mallett finished the season completing 54.7% of his passes for 400 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

“We will see,” Mallett responded when asked if he is going to return to Houston. “I play football, you know that is not what I am worried about. We will see what happens and I have not talked to anyone about it and I don’t intend to until it is that time.”

When asked if he wanted Houston to be the first choice, Mallett replied, “I would love to be here.”

Two factors come into figuring Mallett’s value for the Texans; they are the quarterback’s value to the offensive system, and the lack of supply on the free agent market.

When looking at the NFL draft, Bill O’Brien has made it clear on how he feels about rookie quarterbacks starting in year one. Plus, add in where the Texans are in the draft order (16th), the pickings could get slim in a hurry.

Currently the draft class is highlighted by Brett Hundley, Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Garrett Grayson and Bryce Petty and the chance that two names could be picked before the Texans even turn their draft card in is a real possibility.

Add in a veteran free agent class that features Matt Moore, Jake Locker, Michael Vick, Mark Sanchez, and Brian Hoyer and one can see how slim the market is. Mallett, if allowed to make it to the free agent market, could easily be one of the top options for the quarterback group.

As for Mallett’s value to the Texans, this is the offense he has grown up in New England and the reason he was traded for by the Texans. His knowledge of the system is evident and he understands what it takes to be successful in the offense.

Against the Cleveland Browns, Mallett made quick decisions getting rid of the football and attacking the middle of the field. He also took calculated shots down field to make big plays.

At only 26 years old, Mallett still has plenty of football left in him with little mileage on his frame. There might be slight concern with his injury, but the Texans would be wise to put their immediate future in Mallett’s hands.

The contract Mallett’s camp would want could be short to give him another chance to test the free agent market again before he reaches the age of 30, but the Texans would be wise to try and lock him up as long as they can with the quarterback landscape a big question mark.

Life in the NFL is lived in the now and Mallett is the immediate answer for the Texans. The offseason should be centered around keeping him in a Texans uniform.