The Houston Texans are set to be on HBO for "Hard Knocks" this summer and one storyline to watch is the competition to start at quarterback, as Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett are competing for the job for Bill O'Brien after splitting reps in OTA workouts and this comes as Jaelen Strong and Kenny Hilliard are expected to help DeAndre Hopkins and Arian Foster on offense as rookie players.
The Texans nearly made the playoffs last season despite having to use four different starting quarterbacks and getting some consistency at the position could be the key to the postseason. According to the Houston Chronicle, Hoyer and Mallett started off OTA workouts splitting reps with the first team and that should set up a competition this summer. Hoyer likely has the leg us coming into camp, as NFL.com reports that he was the initial starter with the first team even with the split reps.
Hoyer was signed in the offseason as a free agent, while the Texans brought back Mallett on a contract after they acquired him in a trade with the Patriots last season. Hoyer started off last year with the Cleveland Browns and opened the season as the starter, but he ended up getting benched after faltering down the stretch. Hoyer opened the season 7-4 and had been looking good for Cleveland, but the team ended up losing five straight to end the year.
O'Brien has past experience with both Mallett and Hoyer and that is one reason why the team felt comfortable bringing Hoyer in as a free agent. Hoyer worked with O'Brien in New England and so did Mallett and Hoyer now is getting the chance to "re-learn" the offense under O'Brien, according to NFL.com. Mallett has the chance to win the starting job with a strong OTA and training camp, but Hoyer likely will start off with a slight edge because of his experience.
Hoyer was signed to a two year deal worth other $10 million with nearly $5 million guaranteed and Mallett also comes in on a two year deal at $7 million. The Jets were interested in both QBs in free agency, but Houston stepped up and now they have two solid players on the depth chart. Last season the tea, used Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mallett, Tom Savage and Case Keenum and now Hoyer and Mallett can be the top two with Savage the likely third stringer after being drafted last year.
Mallett was not great last season, but he was solid while passing for 400 yards, two touchdowns and two picks in four games played. Mallett does not have much experience in the NFL overall, while Hoyer played in 14 games last season. Hoyer threw for 3334 yards and 12 touchdowns with 13 interceptions last season while completing just 55 percent of his passes. While that was not great, O'Brien knows Hoyer well and should be able to get him up in his completion percentage in the new offense.
Jaelen Strong is coming in as a rookie and with DeAndre Hopkins and Cecil Shorts in the lineup, he has the chance to be a factor. Strong was very productive over two seasons at Arizona State and he has the chance to push into the starting lineup with Andre Johnson gone.