Report: Ryan Mallett Has Been Traded To Houston

The New England Patriots have made a gigantic trade. According to NESN,  on August 31, the New England Patriots traded Ryan Mallett to the Houston Texans so he can play under Houston’s head coach Bill O’Brien, who also helped coach Mallett while he was in New England. The Patriots got a sixth-round draft pick from the Houston Texans in return for Mallett. This most likely means that Jimmy Garoppolo will replace Tom Brady when he either retires or is traded.

This is an enormous trade by the Patriots. This trade does not have an immediate affect on the Patriots this season, but it could have a huge long-term affect. Now that Ryan Mallet is gone, the most likely candidate to fill the Patriots’ starting quarterback job when Brady is gone is Garoppolo, the rookie out of Eastern Illinois. Luckily for the Patriots, they have seen a lot of what Garoppolo can do during the preseason, because of the trade rumors that surrounded Mallett ever since the preseason started. Garoppolo’s stats during the four preseason games are: 46 completions out of 79 attempts for a 58% completion percentage, he threw for 618 yards, five touchdowns, and only one interception. These are pretty solid stats for someone who only got to start one game during the preseason.

The only problem with this trade is the fact that Garoppolo is a rookie, while Ryan Mallett has been taught under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick for the past three years. He has been an excellent backup, but he really could be a starter. Therefore, he went to Houston where starting quarterbacks are scarce and he might get to play. Hopefully there will be enough time for Garoppolo to get the experience he will need under Belichick and Brady, so that one day in the future he can take over the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback job, and do just as well as Ryan Mallett would have done.

Aug 7, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Ryan Mallett (15) sits on field during the first half against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports