New England Patriots

What are the Patriots’ options for a backup quarterback?

July 29, 2010: On the first day of the Patriots training camp, Brian Hoyer and Tom Brady have a chat during a passing drill in the morning session.

By Andrew Mahoney

2 minutes to read

With the decision to trade Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo in the last two months, the Patriots find themselves in the market for a backup quarterback. Barring a trade, they will scour the list of free agents to see who will be best suited to run out onto the field prior to games, alongside Brady, sans helmet.

Here’a look at who’s available:

Brian Hoyer

This would seem to be the most logical choice. Signed as an undrafted rookie out of Michigan State in 2009, Hoyer spent the first three seasons of his NFL career as Brady’s backup. His stint is New England was rather unremarkable, and he’s probably best remembered for his attempt to be the mediator when Brady got into it with then offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien on the sidelines in the middle of a game against the Washington Redskins in 2011.

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Hoyer has bounced around the league since the Patriots released him prior to the 2012 season. He was cut Monday by the San Francisco 49ers to make room for Garoppolo.

Colin Kaepernick

This would seem less likely. Kaepernick certainly belongs in the NFL, but his greatest success came with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012 and 2013, when they were running the read-option. That is a vastly different system than what the Patriots run, and thus it does not appear that Kaepernick would fit in the system.

Matt Barkley

A four-year starter at Southern Cal, Barkley was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. His only starts in the NFL came with the Chicago Bears, where he started six games last season. Last March, he signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, but was released at the end of the preseason when San Francisco decided to go with Hoyer and C.J. Beathard.

Matt McGloin

After starring at Penn State, McGloin signed with Oakland as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and spent four seasons on the Raiders’ roster. He briefly saw playing time with Oakland last season when Derek Carr was injured, and struggled. He signed a one-year deal with the Eagles last March, but he was released at the end of the preseason.

Thad Lewis

Lewis played four seasons at Duke before signing as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Rams in 2010. Patriots fans might remember Lewis from his time with the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills, for whom he suited up in 2013 and appeared in six games, including five starts. He spent the 2017 preseason with the Baltimore Ravens before being released. The Patriots had Barkley, Lewis, and McGloin in for tryouts in September.

Taylor Heinicke

Heinicke was a four-year starter at Old Dominion. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Minnesota released him last month. Heinicke was signed to the Patriots’ practice squad on Sept. 23, but was released on Oct. 9.