Arizona Cardinals Waive QB Brian Hoyer; Browns Once Thought to be Interested

Could the Cleveland Browns be interested in a quarterback who is about to hit the free agent market?

Cardinals cut QB Brian Hoyer, source confirmed.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) May 13, 2013

Over the past few months, but before the draft, various rumors were connecting the Cleveland Browns to three different quarterbacks: Ryan Mallett of the Patriots, Chase Daniel of the Saints, and Brian Hoyer of the Cardinals. In early February, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM discussed why he thought Michael Lombardi and the Browns might try to pursue Hoyer:

Caplan: "Here's the thing you have to understand with Brian Hoyer -- first of all, as a rookie, and this is unprecedented, as an undrafted free agent in 2009, he beat out four quarterbacks to be Tom Brady's backup, and they only had two quarterbacks on the roster. That's how highly Belichick thought of him. I think Hoyer's a guy that really should've been drafted in the 4th or 5th round. He didn't get drafted, he's a local kid, went to Michigan State, but I think what they saw is because he was a restricted free agent, they looked at him and said, 'we're probably not going to keep him long-term,' so they drafted Ryan Mallett.

Mallett took Hoyer's job, and Hoyer bounced around and had a very good workout for the Cardinals. They signed him, and then he had to play. I watched the tape of his one start and it wasn't too bad. You know, off the bench in garbage time, he might not have looked good, but that doesn't mean anything. His preseason tape is pretty good from what I'm told. He's got decent size, 6'2, 220 lbs, is a smart kid, and turns 28 in October. I think he's the guy Lombardi would like because he comes from that Belichick tree. Remember, Lombardi has been consulting for the Patriots for a couple of years. I think this makes all the sense and it would not surprise me if they made a run for Hoyer."

Ultimately, the Browns ended up trading away Colt McCoy to the 49ers, signing Jason Campbell to be their new backup, and all indications were that they were not going to try to acquire Hoyer via a trade. Now that Hoyer will be a free agent (if he clears waivers), though, we'll see if any rumors start up about him being signed and taking the place of someone like Thaddeus Lewis.

Do you think the Browns should try to pursue Hoyer now, or just leave their quarterback situation "as is?"