Colin Kaepernick rumors: Seeking $9-10 million per year
Colin Kaepernick remains without a team, for numerous reasons, but what he is seeking is now out there.
With his decision to kneel during the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick became a lightning rod for criticism last season. He eventually took over as the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback, starting 11 games with over 2,700 total yards (468 rushing), 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions.
Facing the likelihood he would be cut otherwise,, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers. As jobs have been filled around the league, Kaepernick remains without a team at the end of March. His political views and relatively poor play on the field are the key reasons for that, but now some light has been shed on what Kaepernick is seeking with a new team.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano took a broad look at the narratives surrounding Kaepernick, and the words used to describe the reasons he is unsigned. But there’s this, far less controversial nugget.
"Further, we know from multiple sources that Kaepernick isn’t just looking for any job. Two people to whom I spoke last week say he’s looking for a place that offers him a chance to compete for a starting job and a salary befitting a high-end backup quarterback or a low-end starter. Think something like $9 million to $10 million."
If Kaepernick wants $9-10 million per year, that’s not an excessive price in the broader quarterback market. A legitimate chance to start is the bigger reach, with very few teams that can offer that opportunity at all.
The 49ers can probably be ruled out, and the New York Jets’ owner has political ties to president Donald Trump. A few other teams (Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns) could consider Kaepernick, but at this point he’s nothing more than a fallback option. The Jacksonville Jaguars are an interesting possibility, if they want to add competition for Blake Bortles, but meeting his asking price seems unlikely.
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Kaepernick is alongside Jay Cutler as the top options for any team still seeking a veteran quarterback, and whatever perceived baggage Cutler has is not at the level of Kaepernick’s. Kaepernick could wait for an injury to open up an opportunity like he’s looking for, or his expectations need to change.