Pro Football Focus will be providing analysis for every major NFL signing and trade during the 2015 free-agency period, accounting primarily for the quality of the player and his fit with his new team, and focusing less on the financial terms of the deal.
Here is a grade for the report that QB Brian Hoyer is close to signing with the Houston Texans, a deal that cannot become official until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Link to grade articles on every major deal
Houston Texans: C
Texans coach Bill O'Brien is set to reunite with another former backup quarterback from his days with the New England Patriots as the Texans are poised to sign Brian Hoyer. He'll compete with fellow former Patriot Ryan Mallett, who re-upped Monday.
Hoyer was on his way to a solid season through 10 weeks of the 2014 campaign, posting a respectable plus-2.6 grade as QB of the Cleveland Browns. But the wheels fell off thereafter, and he posted a minus-21.0 mark during his next four games (including just one touchdown and eight interceptions), which was the worst in the NFL during that period. That led to his being benched, and ultimately sent him to free agency.
The inconsistency in Hoyer's game is what makes this a curious move for the Texans. Yes, they do need to take some chances with regard to finding their quarterback of the future -- they're hoping Mallett can be that guy -- but Hoyer looks like a finished product at this point, and it's unlikely that he'll be a long-term answer in Houston.
At best, Hoyer provides some competition for Mallett and is capable of taking the reins in a pinch. However, the Texans are still looking for their long-term answer at quarterback, and this move doesn't get them any closer to that solution.