Is Kaepernick’s career with 49ers over?
After endless speculation, it’s finally official.
Colin Kaepernick will opt out of his contract and become a free agent. His agents informed all 32 NFL teams of his decision, which could come as soon as Thursday.
The move isn’t a surprise, but it ends a tortured two-year process for the quarterback the 49ers once considered their centerpiece building block. Or does it?
It will be fascinating to see what happens to the polarizing quarterback, who started a national conversation about the role of protests in sports, who once was described as the Quarterback of the Future, and whose career has faltered badly as the 49ers have floundered
Will another team want to touch him? Will it hear negative reaction from its fans? Or will the 49ers decide that Kaepernick is still their best option, especially if they get him at less than the $14.9 million they were scheduled to pay him this year.
By opting out, Kaepernick, who will turn 30 in November, is making the decision himself, rather than allowing the 49ers to be in the position of releasing him. It’s a face-saving move and a chance to test his options.
It doesn’t absolutely mean he will switch uniforms. He met last week with general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. Lynch described the conversation as “positive” and said Kaepernick left the meeting “excited.”
Kaepernick’s relationship with the 49ers, following the departure of his champion, Jim Harbaugh, became toxic. He and former general manager Trent Baalke weren’t even on speaking terms. Kaepernick’s play floundered in 2014, he was benched in 2015, and though he improved last season, it didn’t show in the results for a 2-14 team. Last season, the organization supported him while he was under attack.
Most 49ers fans are weary of the Kaepernick soap opera, on and off the field. My sense is the majority would prefer to see him depart. But the 49ers have a bare cupboard at quarterback and no clear savior in the draft.
Washington put the franchise tag on Kirk Cousins, though there is still speculation that he could be traded to the 49ers and reunited with Shanahan. If so, that would be a radical departure for the 49ers who have not traded for a successful starting quarterback. Y.A. Tittle, John Brodie, Steve Spurrier, Joe Montana, Alex Smith and Kaepernick were all drafted. Steve Young arrived to be Montana’s backup. Jeff Garcia came from the CFL.
The 49ers have to solve the most important position in football. And though the assumption is that this might be the end of his story with the 49ers, the Colin Kaepernick saga might not yet be over.