New England Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallett has long been considered trade bait, as his skillset has long dictated that he could potentially start for another NFL team as the Pats have legendary quarterback Tom Brady firmly entrenched as their starter.

It looked like Mallett was going to spend another season as the Pats’ backup in 2014 when the team decided to keep him as a part of their final 53-man roster cuts this weekend, but NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport just broke the news that the Patriots have decided to trade Mallett to the Houston Texans:

Ryan Mallett has been traded to the #Texans, source says

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2014

The Texans are in dire need of a quarterback after they let longtime starter Matt Schaub leave for the Oakland Raiders after a dismal 2013. They signed free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he’s not considered a viable long-term starter in the NFL. From the sound of things, the Texans got an incredibly good deal for Mallett, as Paul Perilo of Patriots Football Weekly stated that Houston only gave up a conditional pick in 2016, which will be a seventh rounder unless Mallett plays over 40 percent of Houston’s snaps this season, in which case it will become a sixth round pick:

Pick for Mallett looks like a conditional choice that will be a 7th unless he plays 40% of the snaps for Houston, which would make it a 6th

— Paul Perillo (@pfwpaul) August 31, 2014

And the Mallett draft choice is for 2016

— Paul Perillo (@pfwpaul) August 31, 2014

It sounds like a fire sale deal from the Patriots, who may have been holding out for more but had to get a deal one with the season opener fast approaching next Sunday. With the trade, rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will now serve as Brady’s backup in New England.

Will the move significantly bolster the Texans’ chances at contending in the talent-shallow AFC South?