49ers Aren’t Trading QB Colin Kaepernick, Teams Interested In Him Down The Road

Update:

According to Rand Getlin, while the 49ers are unlikely to trade QB Colin Kaepernick before today’s deadline, there are “multiple teams are interested in potentially acquiring his services down the road.”

Getlin mentions that there’s a “strong sense” from people around Kaepernick who get the sense that the decision to bench him was influenced by the front office.

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Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the 49ers aren’t trading QB Colin Kaepernick, even after they made the decision to bench him in favor of Blaine Gabbert.

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Rich Cimini of ESPN writes the Jets potentially pursuing a trade for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick is “not out of the question.”

Cimini points out that the Jets could bring Kaepernick in for the remainder of the season without having to make a long-term commitment to him, seeing as they could move on next year with limited repercussions if it didn’t work out.

Recent reports have said the the Jets are exploring trades for quarterbacks along with free agent options now that Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith are both dealing with injuries.

Cimini admits that the 49ers probably could get more for Kaepernick by waiting to the offseason, but their decision to bench him the day before the trade deadline is a curious move to say the least.

According to Cimini, Jets GM Mike Maccagnan isn’t afraid of high-profile moves, and bringing in a quarterback could end up being “a game-changer, a season-changer and, potentially, a franchise-changer” for the team.

Of course, it’s more likely that the Jets won’t complete a trade for a quarterback, and will instead sign an available free agent such as Matt Flynn, who was with the team a few months ago.

Kaepernick, 27, is in the second year of his seven-year, $126.97 million contract that included $61 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $12.4 million for the 2015 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.

$14 million of Kaepernick’s deal will become guaranteed in April of next year, which gives San Francisco ample time to consider all of their available options. It’s worth mentioning that parting ways with Kaepernick would create $7 million in dead money for the 49ers.

In eight games this season, Kaepernick has thrown for 1,615 yards while completing 59.3 percent of his passes to go along with six touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s also added 228 yards rushing and a touchdown.

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