Brian Hoyer Rumors: 49ers, Jets Reportedly Suitors for Free-Agent QB

Impending unrestricted free-agent quarterback Brian Hoyer is reportedly generating interest from multiple teams ahead of Thursday's official start to the NFL's new league year.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Wednesday the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets are both considering Hoyer.

John Wawrow of the Associated Press passed along word the Buffalo Bills were also involved in the discussions. Their interest is likely to subside as the team announced it came to terms with Tyrod Taylor on a restructured contract, though.

Hoyer is coming off a solid season with the Chicago Bears in limited duty. He completed 67 percent of his throws for 1,445 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions across six games (five starts). His campaign came to a premature end after suffering a broken arm in October, though.

The 31-year-old Michigan State product told Kevin Kleps of Crain's Cleveland Business in January he wasn't sure whether the Bears wanted him back, but he was medically cleared to resume football activities heading into the offseason.

"I don't know. It's kind of hard to tell. They have to do their postseason evaluation and things like that," Hoyer said. "Unfortunately for me, I got hurt. I got cleared for the football part. We'll see. There are so many working parts that have to take place—the combine, the draft."

He also put together a nice season with the Houston Texans in 2015, tossing 19 touchdowns with just seven picks in 11 appearances. His career 84.8 passer rating is nothing special, though.

San Francisco may wait to make its move until a final decision is made by the Washington Redskins about Kirk Cousins. John Keim of ESPN.com reported the 49ers are his "preferred destination" if the team decides to trade him rather than seek a long-term deal after using the exclusive franchise tag.

Meanwhile, the Jets, who just released a handful of notable veterans, are in the process of revamping their entire roster. The exits of Darrelle Revis, Brandon Marshall and Nick Mangold help financially but could make the team less attractive to free agents.

In both cases, Hoyer would likely be given every opportunity to seize the starting job in training camp. That's the benefit of hitting the open market at the perfect time. A quarterback with his track record would normally be a fall-back option, but he's more coveted in this year's weak group.