Draft Impact: Why Teams Might Regret Not Trading for Patriots QB Brian Hoyer

While the rest of the league was scrambling to woo Peyton Manning, the New England Patriots very quietly dangled backup QB Brian Hoyer on the trade market. Today, Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe reports that the Patriots didn't find any takers that appealed to them:

"

The Patriots’ only restricted free agent this season, Hoyer was tendered at the second-round level, meaning had another club signed him to an offer sheet that New England declined to match, the new team would have had to send a second-round pick in this month’s draft in exchange for Hoyer.

With so many teams in need of a good starter at quarterback, it was assumed there would be interest in Hoyer. However, there was only tepid interest in the Ohio native, and New England was unwilling to part with Hoyer for a low-round draft pick.

"

A team could have taken Hoyer for the price of a second-round pick and signing Hoyer to a market value deal, presumably lower than the $10 million guaranteed over three years that Matt Flynn got from Seattle.

Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden could fall into the second round, but a more likely alternative would be another QB from Hoyer's collegiate team, Michigan State's Kirk Cousins. Cousins would be cheaper, but he lacks three years of NFL seasoning and development in the Patriots system that made Matt Cassel a starter after barely seeing the field at USC.

The report also says,

"the Patriots are very pleased with his development and believe Hoyer could be a starter."

Clearly the Patriots like Hoyer, they made him Tom Brady's primary backup as an undrafted free agent rookie. It makes sense for the Pats to offer Hoyer up on the trade market because they have 2011 third-round Ryan Mallett in development.

Hoyer will be an unrestricted free agent next year, although he could still appeal to any team that loses a starter to injury during the season. Teams like Miami, Kansas City and Cleveland could have renewed interest in Hoyer if the draft doesn't go their way at QB. With the continuing problem of the league not having 32 starting quality QBs, expect the 2013 free agent market for Hoyer to be much larger than the current group of QB poor teams.

His price tag and competition for his services could increase even though it won't cost a draft pick to land him next year.

"

 

"