Detroit Lions: Top Five Quarterbacks They Must Trade for Now
By Bob Heyrman
For a player like Brian Hoyer, it would be a bit of a homecoming for the former Michigan State Spartan. Hoyer was a decent starter with the Spartans, but he wasn’t a highly-touted NFL prospect. His best college season came during his junior year tossing 20 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. In that season Hoyer recorded 2725 passing yards.
The numbers significantly dipped in 2008, his senior year, as he threw for 2404 yards recording 9 total touchdown passes and 9 interceptions. I would have never guessed after Hoyer’s senior year in ’08 that he’d still be in the NFL in 2019. Hoyer has made himself an excellent NFL career as one of the leagues better backup quarterbacks. He’s backed up well enough at times that both the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers tried him out as a starter. While the starting opportunities didn’t work in his favor, that doesn’t mean he’s not a valuable second-stringer.
Hoyer has started a total of 37 games and played in 65 throughout his career. His career record reads 16-21; not tremendous but Hoyer is a player that can be inserted into the lineup and be efficient enough to win you a game if need be. He’s recorded 9902 yards passing, 48 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions in 11 years of work. He owns a 59.3% completion percentage throughout his NFL career.
Imagine the Detroit Lions are fighting for a Wild Card spot and Stafford is forced to miss just one game. Who are you more comfortable with, Hoyer or Savage? Exactly. Brian isn’t a good long-term starting option, but he can win a game in a pinch. That’s about all you can ask of a backup.
With the New England Patriots having spent a fourth-round pick in this past NFL’s draft on quarterback Jarrett Stidham, this may leave Brian Hoyer expendable. The Detroit Lions should entertain bringing in the veteran to be Matthew Stafford’s primary backup.