According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer will be joining the San Francisco 49ers on a two-year deal. The move cannot be made official until the start of free agency on Thursday at 1 p.m. Pacific. The 49ers were among three teams reportedly interested in Hoyer. The others were the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills.
Source: FA QB Brian Hoyer is headed to the #49ers. Reunion with Kyle Shanahan
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2017
It's a 2-year deal for #49ers and QB Brian Hoyer. Fair to say, this makes it unlikely they bring in Kirk Cousins in a trade with #Redskins
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2017
Update:
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the deal is for two years and $12 million with $10 million guaranteed and $6 million in available incentives. Hoyer could make $9 million per year if he plays well as a starter.
Hoyer, an eight-year veteran, started 13 games while current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for a season (2014) in Cleveland. That year, Hoyer passed for a career-high 3,326 yards, completing 55.3 percent of his passes and throwing 12 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions. Over the past three seasons, Hoyer has passed for 7,377 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions through 31 games.
Last season with Chicago, Hoyer broke his left arm during a game against the Green Bay Packers in October. He was placed on injured reserve four days later. Through six games (only four were full games), Hoyer passed for 1,445 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions.
In 2009, Hoyer was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State by the New England Patriots. In 2015, the 49ers were among the teams interested in Hoyer, who eventually joined the Houston Texans.
Unless the 49ers make a deal for someone like Kirk Cousins of the Washington Redskins, Hoyer will be the only quarterback on the San Francisco roster. Colin Kaepernick opted out of his contract and will likely end up elsewhere via free agency and no other quarterback was on the roster last season was signed beyond 2016.
