The 49ers have given backup quarterback Shaun Hill permission to seek a trade, said a source late Thursday, just days after the club reached a contract agreement with free-agent David Carr to take Hill’s place on the depth chart.
Hill does not appear to fit into the 49ers’ plans after the club agreed to terms with Carr on a two-year, $6.25 million contract that includes a $2 million signing bonus. The 49ers now appear set with Carr, Alex Smith and Nate Davis as their three quarterbacks.
The source said the 49ers might be waiting on the return of Carr’s signed contract before making any move with Hill. In giving Hill permission to seek a trade, he is allowed to speak with teams around the league to begin the process of finding a new team – either through a trade or as a free agent, if the 49ers release him. With the value teams place on draft picks, it’s appears unlikely the 49ers will be able to trade Hill, especially when teams know he is likely to be released.
The paperwork on Carr’s contract has yet to be sent into the league. He agreed to the deal with the 49ers on Sunday. The contract was sent to Carr’s hotel in Cabo San Lucas, where he went on a vacation with his wife, Melody, shortly after his weekend visit to meet 49ers coaches and officials. Carr said, via Twitter, that he would personally deliver the signed contract when he reports to work with his new team. The 49ers open their offseason program on Monday at the team’s practice facility in Santa Clara.
Carr, the No. 1 overall pick of the expansion Houston Texans in 2002, has a 23-56 record as a starting quarterback. He started all 16 games in four of his five seasons with the Texans. He was sacked 76 times as a rookie, and 68 times in 2006, his fourth season.
For his career, Carr has completed passes at a 59.8 percentage rate. He’s thrown 65 touchdowns and 70 touchdowns interceptions. His career passer rating is 75.2. Carr, a
Smith, the 49ers’ presumptive starting quarterback, is 16-24 as a starter. His career completion percentage is 56.3, with 37 touchdowns and 43 interceptions. Smith’s career passer rating is 69.2. Smith turns 26 in May.
Hill is 10-6 in his career with a 61.2 completion percentage. He’s thrown 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His career passer rating is 87.3. Hill turned 30 in January.
Obviously, the 49ers consider certain numbers irrelevant. Hill appears to be expendable because of a matter of style. In offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s offense, the 49ers want to feature a power-running game and complement that with a vertical passing game. The 49ers’ coaching staff apparently is more comfortable with the similar styles of Smith and Carr as their top two quarterbacks.
* * *
The 49ers are scheduled to bring in
* * *
Comments are closed.