NFL Rumors: QB Brian Hoyer to Sign with the Texans, Jets still Interested

Brian Hoyer could be a Texan very soon.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that the veteran quarterback will sign with the Houston Texans once the free agent market opens Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. The sources believe that Hoyer has been offered a three-year deal.

The Texans are expected to bring back quarterback Ryan Mallett as well, according to the Houston Chronicle. Earlier reports stated that Mallett's deal is two-years worth a total of $7 million with a guarantee of a little less than $2 million. The 26-year-old was traded to the Texans from the New England Patriots before the start of the 2014 season. Mallett started two games and was 41-for-75 for 400 yards. He had two touchdowns and two interceptions. Mallett's season ended on November 23 when he tore his pectoral.

Houston still has two quarterbacks, Tom Savage and Ryan Fitzpatrick under contract. No word on whether or not the Texans will move either one of the quarterbacks once Hoyer and Mallet are signed. During the NFL combine, coach Bill O'Brien talked about working with Hoyer in college.

"It was great to work with (Hoyer),'' said O'Brien. "He was an undrafted guy out of Michigan State. I can remember the day I went to Michigan State to work him out. Just a great kid. He made that team. He beat out two guys to make that team. He earned the right to be on that team in '09 and '10 and '11 when I was there. I coached him for three years. Where he is right now, as a successful starting quarterback in this league, doesn't surprise me at all. He's a hell of a guy."

The coach added, "You can tell that he's worked very hard to become the player that he is. He's studied a lot of film. He's a very smart player. He makes the right decisions for his team. He's an accurate passer. I remember back a few years ago when I was coaching him, I used to hear that people questioned his arm strength. I think the guy has got a strong arm. I think he can throw it in all kinds of weather, and you can see that in the games that he's playing this year. ...We've played some good quarterbacks this year already, and Brian is definitely in the class of the quarterbacks that we've played already."

Other rumors are claiming that the New York Jets are still very interested in signing Hoyer. Regardless of where Hoyer ends up going, he will most likely have to compete for a starting position.

Hoyer, 29, was the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns during the beginning of the 2014 season. After his performance dropped midseason, he was benched. The Browns then went with Johnny Manziel, who could not get the job done either.

Hoyer finished the season throwing 3,326 yards with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Although he did not finish with stellar numbers, Hoyer is the only starting quarterback out of 22 for the Browns to have a winning record since 1999. The Browns recently signed free-agent veteran quarterback Josh McCown to a three-year deal worth $14 million.

The Jets who have been dependent on the unreliable Geno Smith desperately need to add a quarterback. They were supposedly interested in Mallet as well. The Jets could also snatch up one of the two top quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft if they do not go to other teams first.