Patriots Reportedly Release Veteran QB Brian Hoyer
By Ryan Giglio
The New England Patriots are shaking up their quarterback depth chart.
While Tom Brady still has a firm grasp on the starting job, the Patriots have elected to release veteran Brian Hoyer.
Hoyer, 33, has been Brady's backup since the middle of the 2017 campaign.
#Patriots are releasing QB Brian Hoyer.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) August 31, 2019
The decision to cut the long-time backup was purely financial. Hoyer had one more season left on his deal and was set to earn $1.5 million.
Rookie fourth-rounderJarrett Stidham will now serve as Brady's primary backup. In the team's final preseason game against the Giants, Stidham completed 18 of 28 passes for 225 yards and had two touchdowns with one interception.
Hoyer enters the open market as one of the better quarterbacks available. Teams like the Colts, Broncos and Lions could seriously use depth at the quarterback position. Hoyer is a solid backup and a more than adequate starter if needed.
As the QB world turns: As @MikeKlis notes, to-be-released Patriots backup Brian Hoyer knows Denver's offense, but Colts, Lions could be in market, too. Meanwhile, #49ers backups well-versed in Denver's offense as well ...
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 31, 2019
Hoyer was last starting in 2017, but his greatest success came in 2015 with the Texans when he threw 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.