The NFL offseason is flying by with July officially arriving. Training camp is officially the talk around the league as all 32 teams will begin their sessions in the coming weeks. This year's New England Patriots training camp will begin for rookies on July 19 before the veterans enter the mix three days later.
With just over two weeks to go before the offseason action resumes, several former Patriots are still scrambling to find new homes by training camp. Although some ex-New England players will be successful on their quest, one of the franchise's recent quarterbacks likely won't find much luck.
Former Patriots QB Brian Hoyer Won't Be Signed Before Training Camp
Veteran QB Brian Hoyer is one former Patriot who's still looking for work. The ex-Michigan State Spartan has been a free agent ever since he was released by the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason, and it's hard to imagine him finding many suitors (if any) at this stage of his career.
Going a year without an NFL contract is telling for most players, especially for a soon-to-be-40-year-old QB. Hoyer looked far from reliable when he last took a snap during Week 7 of the 2023 season, and it's fair to assume his performance has only worsened nearly 21 months later.
Assuming he remains unsigned this summer, it could be time for Hoyer to hang up his cleats. All 32 teams have had almost two years to add him to their roster, and the fact that he's received next-to-zero attention during that stretch suggests the NFL has officially passed him by.
If it's the end, Hoyer will retire with 79 games played (41 starts) across eight franchises, with most of those appearances coming in his eight combined seasons wearing a Patriots jersey. He went 16-25 with a 59.3% completion rate since debuting in 2009, tallying 10,899 passing yards, 53 touchdowns to 37 interceptions, and an 82.0 passer rating along the way.
His career also includes winning Super Bowl 53 with the Pats.
As Hoyer contemplates the next step in his career, the Patriots' QB room is the most promising it's been since Tom Brady left town. Franchise signal-caller Drake Maye is poised to take the next step forward, while offseason addition Joshua Dobbs will provide stability as the backup. Even undrafted rookie QB Ben Wooldridge has some decent potential.
As Patriots fans continue to be excited by the future under center, Hoyer must be wondering if he'll ever play another NFL snap again. Father Time is undefeated, and it might be time for the ex-New England quarterback to accept his fate.