Broncos Reportedly Believe Colin Kaepernick Is Worth A Fourth-Round Pick

Update:

Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports reports there’s a “total standoff” right now in regards to trade talks involving 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick.

According to Garafolo, if the Broncos and Browns are waiting for the 49ers to cut Kaepernick, it’s going to be a while. Garafolo adds that a trade is the only way out for Kaepernick right now.

As of now the Broncos and 49ers are “way off” in terms of compensation for Kaepernick while the Browns have never made them a formal trade offer, according to Garafolo.

Another issue that will still need to be addressed is Kaepernick’s contract, which the Browns reportedly want lowered in a potential deal.

While there has been a lot made about the the April 1 date in which his base salary becomes guaranteed for the 2016 season, Garafolo mentions that it sounds as though the 49ers are intent on blowing right through that date, so that may not even change their stance in trade talks.

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Mike Silver of NFL Media is reporting that the Broncos believe 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick is worth a fourth-round pick.

it’s worth mentioning that the Broncos don’t have a fourth-round pick to offer the 49ers for a Kaepernick, but Silver explains that this is just their valuation of him.

If that’s the case, there appears to be a decent bridge to gap between the two teams.

Earlier on, the Broncos were considered by many to be the front-runners to trade for Kaepernick. However, reports from this morning have said that all is quiet in regards to a potential deal involving Kaepernick on multiple fronts.

Over the weekend, Mark Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Browns are willing to trade their third-round pick for Kaepernick, but want him to restructure his contract as part of the trade.

According to Cabot, the 49ers actually want a second-round pick for their quarterback, but San Francisco may be open to accepting their third-round selection, seeing as it’s the No. 65 overall pick, which is pretty close to a second-rounder.

Cabot mentions that Kaepernick clearly wants out San Francisco, and while the Broncos were considered by many to be the front-runners to land him, they too are reportedly reluctant to send the 49ers a high pick.

Cabot believes the Browns want Kaepernick to reduce his current $19 million a year average by more than half or something close to $7 million to $8 million a year with incentives added to the deal for games started.

On Friday, the Broncos traded a seventh-round conditional pick for Mark Sanchez, so they’re unlikely to be desperate enough to give up a high pick for Kaepernick.

Kaepernick, 28, is entering the third year of his seven-year, $126.97 million contract that included $61 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $13.9 million for the 2016 season.

While those numbers are impressive on their own, the contract is essentially a pay-as-you-go agreement that includes ways for San Francisco to walk away with limited repercussions, as long as Kaepernick is healthy.

The April 1 first is especially important in regards to Kaepernick, as his base salary becomes guaranteed for the 2016 season at that point.

According to OverTheCap.com, trading Kaepernick would free up $8,493,493 in available cap space and create $7,397,260 in dead money.

In 2015, Kaepernick threw for 1,615 yards while completing 59.3 percent of his passes to go along with six touchdowns and five interceptions over the course of eight games. He also added 228 yards rushing and a touchdown.

We’ll have more regarding Kaepernick as the news is available.