Value of Things: What to expect from Brett Rypien

For older fans, it feels odd to see sons of famous former athletes still competing. Brett Rypien is the son of former Redskins star Mark Rypien. While "great" may be an exaggeration, his father did lead the Redskins to a Super Bowl. The burning question is whether Brett is living up to his father's legacy. To answer this, we must temper our expectations.

We're not expecting a first-string quarterback like Tom Brady, but rather to compare him to second stringer Graham Mertz. Mertz hasn't played a down in a real game yet, so no direct comparison is possible. However, we can compare him to Davis Mills, another backup quarterback. To make fair comparisons, we've standardized their performance to about 30 attempts per game.

While not perfect, this gives us a clearer picture of their abilities. On paper, Mills and Rypien seem quite similar, with minor differences in passing yards and touchdowns despite having nearly identical passer ratings. Mills tends to hold onto the ball better and throws more touchdowns, but this is a close call. This suggests Mills should be the team's backup, while Rypien's role may not be substantial.

However, the comparison begins with Mertz. Could Brett potentially outshine his father's backup? That's a big question. When it comes to who would start in 2026, Brett seems likely to start every game. But for long-term career prospects, Mertz might have a higher ceiling despite recovering from two ACL injuries. The Texans have essentially swapped their third-string quarterback with a near-identical player.

Ultimately, the team must decide what to do with this third-string spot. Should they have a reliable backup for the backup, a developing player who could improve over time, or a mobile quarterback who can make plays in specific situations? Each team approaches this differently.