Brian Hoyer, New England Patriots. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots surely aren’t punting on the season, but these three players should be on the radar of other teams.
In perhaps the most surprising results of Week 7, the New England Patriots were undressed by the San Francisco 49ers 33-6 on Sunday. New England is now 2-4, and on a three-game losing streak where they’ve scored 10, 12 and six points.
COVID-19 circumstances have been a factor for the Patriots, with games being moved and practice time limited in recent weeks after Cam Newton’s positive test a few weeks ago. But Bill Belichick is not an excuse maker, and with 10 games left the Patriots are not done in 2020.
Week 8 against the 5-2 Buffalo Bills suddenly looks like a do-or-die game for the Patriots. A loss would drop them four back of Buffalo in the win column, with the Miami Dolphins (3-3 right now) in between.
Doing trade business with the Patriots can be dangerous. Belichick has a track record of knowing when someone is no longer as good as they were, and essentially cashing out while they still have value.
But here are three Patriots players other teams should be thinking about trading for.
3.
Brian Hoyer
QB, New England Patriots
The Patriots brought Hoyer back due mostly to his experience and their familiarity with him. His showing in the start he made in Newton’s place against Kansas City, as he went 15-for-24 for 130 yards with an interception and a lost fumble before being benched, proved he can’t help win games on the field.
If Newton is benched, for part of a game as he was against San Francisco or eventually more permanently from the starting gig, Jarrett Stidham is and should be next in line. Only an injury to Newton or Stidham would elevate Hoyer above No. 3 on the depth chart. A practice squad guy can fill that role just as well.
Another team may see Hoyer as a valuable veteran backup, even if they don’t want him to be even close to having to play. But it’s pretty clear he is not an asset even in that minimal way to the Patriots, so a late-round pick should be enough to send Hoyer on his way.