Patriots Trade QB Ryan Mallett To Texans For Conditional 7th Rd Pick

Update:

Ian Rapoport reports that the Texans traded a conditional 2016 seventh-round pick to the Patriots in return for QB Ryan Mallett.

• Brian T. Smith reports that the conditional pick is based on the number of snaps Mallett plays.

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Ian Rapoport the Network reports that the Patriots have traded QB Ryan Mallett to the Texans.

• Rapoport adds that the Cowboys were in talks with the Patriots about a trade for Mallett as well.
• Tania Ganguli reports that the Patriots will receive a sixth-round pick from the Texans in return for Mallett.
• Jason Cole expects the Texans to cut QB Case Keenum following the addition of Mallett.

The timing of this move is a little curious given that there have been rumors of Mallett being an option for the Texans ever since Bill O’Brien took over as their head coach at the beginning of the year.

Rapoport previously reported that the Patriots would not attempt to trade Mallett until they were comfortable with rookie Jimmy Garoppolo being their backup to Tom Brady.

The Texans wound up keeping three quarterbacks — Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, and rookie Tom Savage — but this appears to be a pretty good indication that one of them won’t be back.

Mallett, 26, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is set to make $776,976 this season. He hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2012.