Colin Kaepernick Hasn’t Decided Whether To Opt Out Of His Contract, Despite Recent Report

Kevin Lynch of SFGate.com, citing a source close to 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, reports that he has yet to determine whether he’ll opt out of his contract this offseason.

This comes in direct contract to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who previously mentioned that Kaepernick will be opting out of his deal this offseason.

Lynch says that making a decision now before he talks to new HC Kyle Shanahan or GM John Lynch doesn’t make a lot of sense for Kaepernick.

According to Lynch’s source, Kaepernick is “frustrated” by the reports saying he will opt out of his deal because he doesn’t want the 49ers to think he prefers to leave San Francisco. Lynch adds that Kaepernick believes the team has “never been better.”

The expectation has been that Kaepernick would opt out of the contract after he and the 49ers agreed to a restructured his deal last year. The two parties came to an agreement on a reworked deal right before the 49ers turned to him as their starting quarterback and benched Blaine Gabbert.

In return for giving Kaepernick the ability to opt out of his contract, he agreed to void the final four years of his current deal.

If Kaepernick were to not opt out of his contract, the contract terms for 2017 would remain the same and include a $14.5 million salary. However, there would be no guaranteed money.

It is worth mentioning that Kaepernick can’t officially opt out of his contract until March 2.

Kaepernick, 29, is a former second-round pick of the 49ers back in 2010. He was in the third year of his seven-year, $126.97 million contract that included $61 million guaranteed when reached an agreement with the 49ers on a restructured deal.

Kaepernick’s new contract will give him the ability to void his deal in the coming months and test the open market.

In 2016, Kaepernick has completed 59.2 percent of his passes for 2,241 yards and 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding 468 yards rushing. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 27 quarterback out of 36 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Kaepernick and where he’ll be playing in 2017 as the news is available.