Jaguars owner Shad Khan tells Mike Dempsey of 1010XL that he would “absolutely” support signing free agent QB Colin Kaepernick if his football people recommended signing him to a contract.
According to Khan, he would not have knelt for the national anthem like Kaepernick did last year, but he respects Kaepernick’s right as an American to express himself, per Dempsey.
Even so, Dempsey added that it seems clear the football people in the Jaguars organization don’t feel like adding Kaepernick makes them better, at least for now.
The Jaguars appear to be poised to make Chad Henne their starting quarterback for the 2017 season after Blake Bortles has continued to struggle. While Henne is a serviceable backup, there’s some question as to whether he can actually be a difference maker for the Jaguars this year.
If Jacksonville wanted to add a free agent quarterback right now, Kaepernick is clearly the best available option. Although, the team could also see what’s available in the trade market, but even then there are no guarantees that they would find anyone capable of stepping in and performing right out of the gate.
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 visited with the Seahawks a few months ago but left Seattle without an agreement.
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 have him featured in our Top 50 Available Free Agents list.
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