Fans have been mixed in their opinions regarding the signing of former Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer. While fans would love to have a player in place who can be the quarterback of the future, Hoyer is seen more as a bridge quarterback or stopgap solution at the team's most important position. However, that doesn't mean that Hoyer won't win football games in 2017. In fact, Kevin Jones of KNBR, who has followed Hoyer during his career, promises that the quarterback will help improve this football team.
"He can win football games," Jones told Ted Ramey on KNBR Friday. "He did this with the Texans. He did this with the Browns. The Browns were in playoff contention in December – which is unheard of for them – when Hoyer was there and he led the Texans to the playoffs. Obviously, had a meltdown in the playoffs but I am not going to call this a 3-13, 4-12 team. We'll see what happens with the defense.
"If Hoyer is starting and he has command of the offense and [Pierre] Garçon is making plays, the 49ers are going to be a much more competitive, watchable team sooner than you think. I think next year, I think they could upset a team like the Seahawks if everything pans out. I'm going to put things at 5-11, 6-10 right now, seeing who they get in the draft. Hoyer will win football games. I promise you, he will."
Hoyer is no longer the only quarterback on the team. The 49ers signed a former Chicago teammate of Hoyer's in Matt Barkley. "There will be a rookie quarterback pick and probably an undrafted one, too," Jones said. "I like Matt Barkley here as a wildcard. I've seen Kyle Shanahan move the football with Rex Grossman so I know he can with Matt Barkley. If Hoyer were to get hurt – he's had injury concerns in the past – (and) the rookie wasn't ready, I think Matt Barkley is this year's Christian Ponder. You keep him around as a third safety net."
You can listen to the entire interview on KNBR.
Of course, the key here is that players like Hoyer, Garçon, and others have played in head coach Kyle Shanahan's system and can help other players on the team transition faster. While some may not be long-term solutions, they are key components who will help improve the team now and contribute to the 49ers' long-term success by helping teach and understand the system – even if those players aren't on the team anymore in three or four years.