Eighteen months after Colin Kaepernick bet on himself, his losses continue to mount.
The disgruntled San Francisco 49ers quarterback now may not get his wish to be traded, according to NFL.com.
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"While the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns attempt to work out a trade for Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers are preparing for a third scenario -- retaining the 28-year-old quarterback and allowing him to compete with Blaine Gabbert for the starting job under new coach Chip Kelly in 2016," NFL.com reported.
"Kaepernick, benched for Gabbert midway through last season and coming off three surgeries, will be guaranteed his $12 million salary for 2016 if he remains on the Niners' roster on April 1. Given the recent explosion of quarterback contracts, including the Houston Texans' signing of former Broncos backup Brock Osweiler to a four-year, $72-million deal on Wednesday, the 49ers believe Kaepernick's salary isn't too much to swallow for a player who'd theoretically have a chance to be their starter this season.
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The 49ers are asking the Broncos for a second-round draft choice, which seems to be the hangup, NFL.com reports. And the Browns have not made an acceptable offer for Kaepernick, either.
Kaepernick signed an extremely team-friendly, seven-year, $126 million contract in the summer of 2014, which gave the 49ers the right, not only to subtract salary if he didn't make the Pro Bowl or lead San Francisco to the playoffs, but also to cut him during any offseason and not owe him any of the remainder of his contract.
And now that other quarterback with considerably fewer accomplishments on their résumés --- namely Osweiler and the Eagles' Sam Bradford --- are commanding significantly higher salaries, the 49ers may not be willing to bring in another free agent who will command a higher salary.
And they don't seem united behind Blaine Gabbert.
"If nothing gives in the next couple of days -- meaning that neither the Broncos nor Browns could finalize agreements (involving trade compensation and contract restructuring) that would satisfy both the 49ers and Kaepernick, respectively -- the Niners are preparing to move on and initiate a quarterback competition," NFL.com added. Though general manager Trent Baalke is extremely high on Gabbert, a former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick, Kelly is intrigued by the idea of coaching Kaepernick, whose mobility and athleticism would seem to fit the coach's system."
The only question the 49ers need to ask themselves is how strongly Kaepernick wants out of San Francisco. If his presence becomes a detriment to the team, then a trade makes sense.
Otherwise, keeping him for 2016 is shaping up to make a lot more sense.
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