The Houston Texans pulled the trigger on a trade on Sunday, acquiring New England Patriots back up quarterback Ryan Mallett. It seems to indicate that the Texans and head coach Bill O’Brien aren’t confident in the quarterbacks on their roster: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tom Savage and Case Keenum.
Ryan Mallett has been traded to the #Texans, source says
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2014
The Texans had to pull the trigger to trade for Mallett instead of waiting for him to be released or put on waivers because the Dallas Cowboys were in the fray for it as well.
Why did the #Texans have to trade for Ryan Mallett instead of claim him? The #Cowboys were in talks with #Patriots, too.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2014
The Cowboys lost their safety net in Kyle Orton over the offseason. The back up quarterback reportedly wanted to retire and skipped activities, then he wanted to play. Either way the Cowboys cut him and had Brandon Weeden and Dustin Vaughan behind Tony Romo on the depth chart, neither inspiring much confidence.