The Texans have made a decision in their quarterback battle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Brian Hoyer will open the regular season as Houston’s starting QB. Hoyer and Ryan Mallett had been vying for the position throughout the offseason and into the preseason.
Both Hoyer and Mallett signed two-year contracts with the Texans this past March, with Mallett getting a $7MM deal from the team, while Hoyer received a $10.5MM pact. While Mallett had the advantage of having spent the 2014 season in Houston, Hoyer has the more extensive résumé as a starter, having started 17 career games, including 13 last season for the Browns. Mallett has just two career starts.
The decision shouldn’t have a real impact on the Texans’ roster or on either quarterback’s short-term contract prospects, since both Mallett and Hoyer – along with third QB Tom Savage – are on multiyear deals. All three signal-callers still appear very likely to make the regular-season roster. It’s also not guaranteed that Hoyer will finish the season as the Texans’ starting quarterback.
Still, if Hoyer takes the job and runs with it, it could have a serious long-term impact on the earning potential of him and Mallett. At $5.25MM per year, Hoyer would be one of the least expensive veteran starters in the league, and he’d be due for a raise after next season if he hangs onto the job and plays well.
Not surprising, given that both have performed reasonably well in camp and Hoyer has the benefit of a little more experience (plus, he did have moments of very good play as a starter for the Browns). The coaching staff had been playing it close to the vest, but it makes sense that the team would want to name a starter now so that he can prepare appropriately for the third and most important preseason game.
I’ve always wanted to see what Mallett could do over a full season but it’s starting to look like we’ll never get that chance. Houston gave the Pats literally the lowest form of compensation to acquire Mallett, and now he can’t beat out a journeyman QB. Looks like backup is going to be his ceiling.
He has never been given a chance to see what he can do, he looked pretty damn good against Hoyer and the Browns last season, I don’t think he had a square chance at all, Hoyer was already picked to be the starter, if I was Mallett I would be pissed, if given the chance he will be a great NFL quarterback. So really sad.
This seemed to be Mallett’s big opportunity, with a full offseason here and with no one established standing in his way. But Hoyer has yet to make it through a season, be it due to injury or demotion, so a shaky stretch could give some Texans fans their wish. But Mallett losing this battle after Week 2 of the preseason should temper those expectations in this scenario.