I'm still sticking by my original position that New England will be keeping all 3 QB's this year. Mallet's contract is sufficiently low enough in dollars to not worry about savings, especially with the cap relief we get from the Mankins deal.
There have been several years this past 15 where the Patriots have kept 3 QB's, and I see this as one of them. My reasons? Although Jimmy G looks like the heir apparent, there's still not a lot of footage of him playing with the 1st string against the other team's 1st string. Better to have him in the 3rd position and learn what it's like while watching TFB, and also have a year's worth of time to fully grasp the playbook, and the offensive philosophy that Coach has.
The Hammah is good enough to win a few games, or to at least NOT lose them if Brady is out for any length of time. He can be the #2 for now, let Jimmy G learn the ropes, and then see what happens this next year.
Besides, if Mallet were to be traded to the Rams, it would've happened already. Coach isn't one to hesitate where he sees a move like that being of some benefit to the team, and the Rams would've wanted him in camp NOW so as to get acclimated to their system.
So, I still believe we keep 3 QB's this year. Mallet gets to walk next year, Jimmy G moves up a slot in the QB heirarchy, and then who knows? Perhaps he IS the heir apparent to TFB.
But that's how I see this playing out. I could, of course, be wrong, but reading the tea leaves from where I sit, I'm willing to take that chance.