Patriots Hoping To Trade Either Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer?

Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston writes that the New England Patriots could end up playing backup quarterbacks Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer in their second preseason game in an attempt to drum up interest in one of the two players.

The Patriots actually shopped Hoyer around to prospective team’s a few months ago, but found no takers. Hoyer was a restricted free agent this season, so it makes sense that team’s would be willing reluctant to part with value in return for a player that could walk away at the end of the 2012 season. Such a move would almost certainly require a team to lockup Hoyer after a deal is completed, but this also shifts a lot of the leverage to Hoyer, as the team has already paid the cost to land him.

Mallett seems like an interesting option for a team that’s in need of some additional help at the quarterback position. He’s basically a long-term prospect, that can be developed in the coming years.

Everything comes down to New England’s asking price and the quarterbacks’ performance during the preseason.