Now that the Jets are locked in drafting their new and young starting quarterback, they are trying to figure out who their veteran backup will be.
Brian Hoyer, who has played on seven teams for 12 seasons, visits the Jets on Tuesday, according to a source. Hoyer, 35, played for the Patriots last season, starting a game.
Hoyer knows the Jets’ new offense. He played for the Browns in 2014 when Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator and Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was an intern. He also started six games for the 2017 49ers with Shanahan as head coach and LaFleur as the passing game coordinator. Jets coach Robert Saleh was the 49ers ’defensive coordinator and saw Hoyer up close. Hoyer went 0-6 this season in San Francisco before Jimmy Garoppolo took over.
The safety quarterback is a must for the Jets. After changing Sam Darnold on Monday, the Jets only have James Morgan and Mike White in position. Neither of them has ever had a catch in an NFL game. The Jets are expected to incorporate BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 general election in three weeks in the 2021 NFL draft. They must find a safety veteran and advise Wilson.
Hoyer has played for the Patriots, Cardinals, Browns, Texans, Bears, 49ers and Colts in his career, primarily as a backup. He has started 39 games and is between 16 and 23 years old as a starter.
The Jets have had problems at the backup site in recent years. They haven’t won a game started by a quarterback since 2016, when Bryce Petty won a game in San Francisco. They are 0-15 since then with a backup starting. Joe Flacco served as a backup to Darnold last season, losing all four starts. Flacco signed with the Eagles as a free agent this offseason.