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Why Brian Hoyer believes the Patriots can model themselves after the Texans
The former Patriots QB drew several parallels between the two squads, who will play each other this week, on the latest episode of "The Quick Snap."
On paper, the 1-4 Patriots have little in common with the AFC South-leading Houston Texans squad (4-1) they’ll face on Sunday.
New England is rebuilding with a new head coach, struggling through offensive line issues, and not playing its young quarterback Drake Maye. The Texans, meanwhile, have built a budding monster under second-year QB and reigning Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, who looks like one of the best passers in football after starting wire to wire in 2023.
But former Patriots QB Brian Hoyer says the Patriots might not be as far away from that kind of success as it seems.
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On the latest episode of “The Quick Snap,” Hoyer noted Houston’s model for success even has roots in New England.
“The Texans have a mold for maybe what the Patriots can get to,” he said. “They have a young head coach/former player DeMeco Ryans, similar to [head coach] Jerod [Mayo]. Played linebacker for a long time. Young, enthusiastic.
“[Former Patriots director of player personnel] Nick Caserio goes to Houston. He drafts the offensive rookie of the year from last year in C.J. Stroud and the defensive rookie of the year in William Anderson. So he’s taken a formula, all the lessons he’s learned here and built … my dark horse Super Bowl contender.”
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That’s a bold statement to be sure, and the comparison Hoyer’s making isn’t apples to apples. After all, the Texans allowing Stroud to play from the beginning and lead his team to a playoff win as a rookie is a central part of Houston’s story. His emergence set the stage for Caserio and the Texans to trade for former Bills receiver Stefon Diggs and sign dynamic edge rusher Danielle Hunter to pair with Anderson to take them from playoff team to contender.
But in theory, Hoyer’s assertion might not be as crazy as it seems.
Defensively, the Patriots do have some outstanding young building blocks in cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who just blanketed Dolphins superstar receiver Tyreek Hill last weekend, and edge rusher Keion White. Meanwhile, Maye could still prove a franchise-changing quarterback once he steps on the field.
A solid rookie performance from Maye combined with a good draft and the massive amount of free-agent money the Patriots will have in 2025 could fuel a resurgence not unlike what the Texans, who finished 2022 with just three wins, have seen in Houston.
For now, the current Patriots look like little more than another “W” on the ascending Texans’ 2024 schedule. Additionally, we still don’t know when Mayo and the New England coaching staff will finally put Maye on the field. But until then, Pats fans can dream about their team becoming what the Texans are.
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