SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer will join the 49ers and be reunited with coach Kyle Shanahan, according to an NFL Network report Wednesday.
Hoyer was presumed to be a target of Shanahan, given that the two worked together in 2014 with the Cleveland Browns.
Hoyer was reportedly talking with both the New York Jets and 49ers, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, but will sign a two-year deal with San Francisco when the signing period begins Thursday. He will be given an opportunity to start, although another NFL Network report indicated the 49ers haven't given up on trying to trade for Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Meanwhile, reports also indicate the 49ers will be signing two free-agent receivers for Hoyer to target, including Washington receiver Pierre Garcon. Also, Rapoport reported the 49ers will sign Bills receiver Marquise Goodwin, a speedster who had 29 catches for 431 yards and three touchdowns in 2016. The 26-year-old Goodwin was a third-round pick by Buffalo in 2013.
The NFL's negotiating period began Tuesday. Profootballtalk.com reported that Hoyer, 31, is expected to select a team on the first day of free agency.
In 2016, Hoyer played in six games with five starts for the Chicago Bears, completing 134 of 200 passes (66.0 percent) for 1,445 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 98.0 before his season ended with a broken left arm.
With Shanahan, Hoyer directed the Browns to a 7-6 record as a starter, the most for the franchise since Derek Anderson won 10 games in 2007 the last time Cleveland made the playoffs.
Hoyer could conceivably be a bridge starter for the 49ers in the first year of the Shanahan-Lynch regime, or also be a backup _ which means his acquisition wouldn't necessarily mean there wouldn't be interest in trading for Washington starter Kirk Cousins.
Cousins, according the NFL Network's Mike Silver, would prefer to join the 49ers and Shanahan, with whom he worked in Washington.
As a franchise free agent, the 49ers are not allowed to talk directly with Cousins' agent and must deal with Washington in hopes of landing him in a trade. Considering Cousins' status, any deal could include the 49ers No. 2 overall draft pick.
Hoyer and Atlanta backup Matt Schaub were thought to be candidates to join the 49ers because of their relationship with Shanahan. Schaub, ESPN reported, agreed to a two-year contract to remain in Atlanta.
