NFL Trade Rumors: Matt Barkley targeted by Houston Texans before Ryan Mallett

According to Lance Zierlein of The Sideline View, Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Matt Barkley was being targeted in a trade last week by the Houston Texans.

For those asking who couldn’t hear the radio show, the QB the Texans targeted before Mallett was Matt Barkley according to two sources.

— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) September 5, 2014

It appears that when the Texans couldn't acquire Barkley, they ended up swinging a deal with the New England Patriots for backup quarterback Ryan Mallett instead. Houston sent a conditional draft pick that could be as high as a sixth rounder to New England. Mallett is currently projected to be the Texans' backup behind veteran stop-gap starter Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Reports emerged last week that Barkley was available on the trade block but it seems talks never got too serious because he still remains in Philadelphia as the team's third string quarterback. Based on the low cost it took for Houston to acquire Mallet, it's fair to imagine the Texans didn't offer much to the Eagles in exchange for Barkley. It's also fair to imagine this because Barkley is only a year removed from being a rookie fourth round draft pick who still hasn't proven much at the NFL level.

If anything is to be gleaned from this report, it's that the Eagles aren't ready to give up Barkley at just any cost. They obviously think his value as a third string quarterback is higher than that of acquiring a late-round draft pick.