The New England Patriots have spent cheaply for backup quarterbacks over the past six seasons.

The average backup quarterback makes approximately $3.5 million to $4 million per season, but the Patriots have spent as little as $310,000 and no more than $776,976.

The Patriots moved away from Brian Hoyer in 2012 when he had a restricted free agent tender of $1.9 million and could do the same in 2015 when Ryan Mallett begins making a salary on par for a backup.

The Patriots could select a developmental quarterback in the middle to late rounds of the 2014 NFL Draft to begin the process of replacing Mallett.