NFL Rumors: Brandon Weeden Choosing Houston Texans Over Miami Dolphins

NFL rumors are swirling around Brandon Weeden. After being released by the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, the 32-year-old quarterback has finally found a team in the National Football League that did not release him. After being courted by the Miami Dolphins in free agency, it appears that Weeden has decided what football uniform he wants to wear for the next two seasons. According to ESPN, Brandon is choosing to stay with the Houston Texans instead of joining the Dolphins.

When free agency began, the Houston Texans made one of the biggest splashes in the NFL. They plucked Brock Osweiler away from the Denver Broncos. He was supposed to take over for Peyton Manning, who finally decided to retire from the National Football League after winning his second Super Bowl. Giving Osweiler a four-year contract worth $72 million meant that the Texans were gambling their future on someone that has not been a starter for more than a season.

Signing Brandon Weeden isn’t going to create the same waves in the media. Many believe that the Houston Texans are simply signing a backup quarterback for Brock Osweiler. Weeden signed a two-year contract worth $4 million, which is in line with what backup quarterbacks in the NFL are being paid. The Texans are hoping that he doesn’t need to step on the field for that $2 million salary because it would mean that Osweiler is doing really well as a starter.

Having a veteran like Brandon Weeden around could be quite useful for Brock Osweiler. Weeden has spent quite a bit of time in the film rooms. Brandon also has a head start on the offensive scheme used by the Houston Texans, so he can provide Brock with some insight if he needs it. Osweiler is learning the system from scratch since he does not have a previous link with Texans head coach Bill O’Brien.

Rounding out the quarterback position is Tom Savage. The Houston Texans like having the 25-year-old as their third string QB. The hope is that he can work his way up and become the second string quarterback behind Brock Osweiler by the time that Brandon Weeden finishes up his contract with the team. Bill O’Brien likes the work ethics of Savage and feels that he is a very accurate passer.

Retaining Brandon Weeden increases the chances that Brian Hoyer will be moving on from the Houston Texans. If general manager Rick Smith cannot find an NFL team that is willing to trade for the 30-year-old quarterback, then he more than likely will give him a full release so that he can find another team that will give him a chance to compete for the starting job.

Since he would more than likely prefer to choose his own destiny, Brian Hoyer is hoping for a release. There’s a couple of NFL teams that are waiting to recruit him once that happens. The situation between Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets does not appear to be improving any, so head coach Todd Bowles might be interested in signing Hoyer as an insurance policy. Not only can he be a stop gap starter, but he can also be a mentor to whatever rookie quarterback that they select in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The NFL is severely lacking in quality quarterbacks, so guys like Brandon Weeden should be able to make millions of dollars before walking away from professional football. Had it not been the Houston Texans, then Weeden would have been cashing big weekly game checks from the Miami Dolphins. Fortunately for Weeden, the option to stay home with the Texans was available.