News & Info/Headlines

The 49ers have been very busy on the day before the official start of NFL Free agency, reportedly reaching agreements with four players: Quarterback Brian Hoyer, fullback Kyle Juszczyk along with wideouts Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin.

No deals can become official until the new league year starts at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport first reported Wednesday that the 49ers have agreed in principle on a two-year deal with Hoyer.

The move reunites Hoyer with Kyle Shanahan, the newly minted Niners coach who served as the quarterback's offensive coordinator with the Browns in 2014.

Hoyer chose San Francisco over the chance to play for the New York Jets. As NFL.com's Marc Sessler suggests, Hoyer's decision says plenty about the positive influence Shanahan's 49ers hire is having on this year's free-agent class. The question is whether signing Hoyer would slam the brakes on a potential trade with Washington for quarterback Kirk Cousins.

If so, Sessler contends it shouldn't.

Hoyer played some of his best football under Shanahan in Cleveland, guiding the lowly Browns to an unlikely 6-3 record in the coach's rollout-heavy offense. His play fell off sharply down the stretch, though, leaving Cleveland to turn (unwisely) to Johnny Manziel.

A career journeyman, Hoyer was serviceable for Houston in 2015 before suffering an apocalyptic meltdown in the playoffs. Last season with the Bears, the 31-year-old played just five games before his campaign was cut short by a broken arm.

Here in March, Hoyer is the only quarterback on San Francisco's roster. For Shanahan, it's far from perfect -- but it's a start.

Meanwhile, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Garcon is expected to make $16 million in the first year of the two-year deal he’ll sign with the 49ers. Once again, Shanahan, was the offensive coordinator when Garcon signed his five-year, $42.5 million deal in Washington five years ago.

The 49ers released receiver Torrey Smith on Monday and were expected to scour the market for help at wide receiver. Over the weekend they signed impending free agent Jeremy Kerley to a three-year, $10.5 million deal.

San Francisco wideouts combined for 160 receptions, 1,777 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. By comparison, Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown had 106 catches for 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Garcon, 30, spent five years with the Redskins, fulfilling a deal he signed in the 2012 offseason, and had 376 receptions, 21 touchdowns and averaged 12.1 yards per catch. His best season with the team came in 2013, when Garcon caught 113 passes for 1,346 yards and five touchdowns while playing in then-offensive coordinator Shanahan's offense.

As ESPN.com notes, Garcon is known for toughness and consistency, two desired traits by coaches and quarterbacks in a receiver. The Redskins also used him better in 2016, going back to play-action passes over the middle, which opened up more run lanes after the catch. On only seven more catches this season, he gained 347 yards after the catch compared to 166 in 2015, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

For the season, Garcon caught 79 passes for 1,041 yards and three touchdowns. It was his second career 1,000-yard season -- both with the Redskins.

Goodwin, 26, is one of the fastest players in the NFL. He most recently failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the long jump. He failed to qualify at the trails in Oregon despite posting two of the longest jumps in the world earlier in the year.

Goodwin played his college ball at Texas before the Bills selected him in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. He ran a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash at his combine.

Goodwin played in 39 games in Buffalo in his four seasons, making 10 starts, nine coming in 2016. He notched career highs in receptions (29) and yards (431) while scoring three touchdowns. He was limited to two games in 2015 with a rib injury.

As USA Today notes, the 49ers’ signed receivers for 2017 will be Goodwin, Garcon, Kerley, Aaron Burbridge, DeAndre Carter, Bruce Ellington, Chris Harper, Eric Rogers, Rashad Ross and DeAndre Smelter.

And finally. ... Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team will sign fullback Kyle Juszczyk on Thursday. There were reports of interest in Juszczyk from a few teams once the “legal tampering” window opened on Tuesday and was looking to join a team where he could play a variety of roles.

As Profootballtalk.com notes, the 49ers should be able to offer him a chance to show off his versatility as they aren’t exactly overstuffed with players who need the ball at present. Juszczyk caught 97 passes over the last three years with the Ravens, so a role in the passing game would seem to be an obvious place to start.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Juszczyk will get a four-year deal worth $21 million.