Nine weeks after their Super Bowl victory, the Broncos remain open to all options at quarterback. Free agent Brian Hoyer is expected to visit Denver on Thursday, a league source confirmed.
Hoyer, 30, is among several players Denver has explored after the retirement of Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler’s exit to Houston as a free agent. Hoyer talked with the New York Jets on Wednesday but left without signing a contract. New York continues to wait on a decision from free-agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Hoyer started nine games for Houston last season, going 5-4 with 19 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
However, Hoyer played his worst game at the worst time, throwing four interceptions in Houston’s one-and-done playoff-exit loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He became expendable after the Texans guaranteed Osweiler $37 million.
Denver has cast a wide net for a quarterback to compete with veteran Mark Sanchez and, to a lesser degree, Trevor Siemian. Broncos general manager John Elway and coach Gary Kubiak met with San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick — a deal complicated by the Broncos’ desire for the veteran to take a $4.9 million pay cut — and Denver expressed interest in Cleveland’s Josh McCown and Tampa Bay’s Mike Glennon.
A seismic wave shook the draft Wednesday with Philadelphia acquiring Cleveland’s second pick, possibly to take North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz. It could create a run on the position, leading prospects Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook, both of whom visited the Broncos, to go earlier than expected in the first round.
The Eagles’ roster boasts Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel. They would be difficult to trade because of their guaranteed signing bonuses, leaving Philadelphia little incentive to eat money on players not on their team.
“Sam Bradford is our starting quarterback,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. “We’re going to invest in quarterbacks.”
