Ryan Mallett has never played a full game in the NFL in his two seasons with the New England Patriots, but he is one of the most popular names being tossed around in trade rumors leading up to the NFL Draft. Playing behind Tom Brady certainly does a lot for a quarterback's value whether they have the stats to prove it or not. Many believe it is only a matter of time before the New England Patriots trade away their backup quarterback and scheduled visits with Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater only enforce that.
According to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com, the Patriots are holding off on trading Mallett because they want a higher return than most teams are willing to offer. New England would ideally like a second or third round draft pick in return for the quarterback, but given Mallett's low stats on the field (aka no stats), most teams are unwilling to meet the demands. Reiss notes that right now, Mallett would only have the return value of a late-round pick at best.
If a team is going to make a move on Mallett, the Cleveland Browns could be it. The team has taken more interest in position players over the current quarterbacks headlining the class. The Browns are favoring wide receivers like Sammy Watkins or Jadeveon Clowney rather than Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles. The Browns need a quarterback, that is no secret. After releasing everyone besides Brian Hoyer, the Browns must make a move. Already loaded with two first-round picks, giving up a late selection for Mallett is not a bad choice.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could be the other team that makes a move for Mallett. The Jaguars traded away Blaine Gabbert and re-signed Chad Henne, but they have no long-term option. Henne is a solid stop-gap choice for the 2014 season, giving Mallett another year to develop if the team does not feel he is ready to start. The Jaguars are also favoring position players, recently noting they would trade down if Clowney is not available. If they are not impressed with this year's options, Mallett is the best way to help the roster.
The chances Mallett gets traded this season are slim to none. However, the Patriots are showing signs of preparing for life after Brady. They are bringing in both Manziel and Bridgewater for visits, slowly starting to look at what another quarterback would look like under center for the team.
