Other options no longer available, Brian Hoyer signs with Bears

The Chicago Bears did not draft a quarterback over the seven rounds of this year’s selection meeting, but not long after it ended, they signed a veteran to backup Jay Cutler.

Chicago has signed Brian Hoyer to a one-year deal, general manager Ryan Pace confirmed to reporters on Saturday evening. There was no immediate word on financials.

Hoyer, who spent last year with the Houston Texans, had visited with both the New York Jets and Denver Broncos. But the Broncos drafted Paxton Lynch in the first round on Thursday night, ending their pursuit of any other quarterbacks (they had also discussed trading for Colin Kaepernick and Sam Bradford), and the Jets took Christian Hackenberg in the second round.

“When he’s played, he’s been productive,” Pace said of Hoyer.

With inexperienced second-year quarterbacks Matt Blanchard and David Fales also on the roster, Hoyer becomes the clear No. 2 in Chicago behind Cutler.

Though Hoyer’s postseason start with Houston against the Kansas City Chiefs in January was terrible, he was quite good in the regular season, completing 60.7 percent of his passes with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine starts.

The 30-year old was undrafted out of Michigan State in 2009, signing with the New England Patriots, where he spent three seasons; Hoyer has also started games for the Ariziona Cardinals and his hometown Cleveland Browns in addition to the Texans.