NY Jets 'made attempts' to sign QB Brian Hoyer to be their backup

The NY Jets found their hopeful quarterback of the future in Zach Wilson in the 2021 NFL Draft, and they hoped to secure his eventual backup in veteran Brian Hoyer.

Unfortunately, Hoyer re-signed with the New England Patriots on Monday night ending any hopes the Jets had of adding the 12-year veteran to their roster.

Hoyer visited with the Jets prior to the 2021 NFL Draft and both sides apparently left on good terms. It seemed almost inevitable that the Jets would sign Hoyer to be their backup after the draft concluded, but it never came to be.

Instead, Hoyer is returning to New England, the place that he's called home for over half of his NFL career. Safe to say, the Jets probably aren't too happy about this.

Not only did they bring him in for a visit prior to the draft, but they reportedly made multiple attempts to sign him before he opted to rejoin the Patriots, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

According to Fowler, Hoyer's decision ultimately came down to the fact that he lives in the New England area and has a certain familiarity with the Patriots organization.

The Jets, evidently, couldn't compete with that.

Brian Hoyer will not be the NY Jets' backup quarterback

The Jets continue to search for a backup quarterback, something they desperately need given the state of their QB room.

Wilson is expected to be the team's day one starter at quarterback, but behind him are two players who have never thrown a regular-season pass in the NFL.

The Jets drafted FIU QB James Morgan in the fourth round of last year's draft to be their long-term backup, but he failed to impress last summer and even spent time behind Mike White, the other QB on the Jets roster, on the depth chart.

White was a fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2018 NFL Draft and has spent the last two seasons primarily on the Jets' practice squad.

Simply put, Morgan and White aren't going to cut it. The Jets still need to add a veteran backup before the season starts and the market is growing rather thin.

The likes of Nick Mullens, Matt Barkley, and Brett Hundley remain the top names on the open market. Meanwhile, players like Nick Foles or Gardner Minshew could be available in a trade.

One thing's for sure, however. The Jets' backup quarterback in 2021 won't be Brian Hoyer.

That ship has sailed, despite the team's repeated persistence.