NFL Notes: Colin Kaepernick, Draft, 49ers, & Rams

Colin Kaepernick

49ers GM Trent Baalke told reporters on Wednesday that “nothings changed” in regards to QB Colin Kaepernick and a potential trade.

“Nothing’s changed,” Baalke said, via Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. “We said at the combine our intentions were to have him on this roster. He’s still on this roster.”

Even so, Baalke didn’t completely rule out a trade involving Kaepernick.

“You never say never in this business,” Baalke said. “That gets you in trouble. For me to say, ‘Never,’ I’m not going to do that. I wouldn’t do that with any player on our roster. Every day as you see leading up to this draft, things change daily. Heck, they change by the minute right now within rosters. I cannot predict the future.”

Draft

• Mark Dominik considers Memphis QB Paxton Lynch to be the biggest winner in this trade between the Browns and Eagles. Dominik ultimately expects Lynch to be in top 10.
• Matt Miller mentions that UCLA LB Myles Jack was the name he heard most in connection to the Browns this past week. However, he believes it’s doubtful Jack is available to the Browns at No. 8, but it’s at least a possibility.
• LaTech RB Kenneth Dixon visited with the Texans on Wednesday and has taken pre-draft visits to meet with the 49ers, Ravens and Patriots. (Ian Rapoport)

49ers

• 49ers GM Trent Baalke  of the rumored tension between him and HC Chip Kelly: “I can tell you emphatically that it’s total bs.” (Matt Barrows)
• According to Ian Rapoport, the 49ers knew they wouldn’t get to No. 2 overall in a deal with the Browns.

Rams

Titans GM Jon Robinson told Peter King of TheMMQB.com that there is “some value” in being the team with the No. 1 pick in regards to marketing and branding, and he explained as much to the Rams during their trade talks.

“At one point, I told [Rams G.M.] Les [Snead] that the other part of the number one pick is as soon as we’re out, our logo is off and your logo is up, you control the top of the draft, there’s a marketing and branding impact, you’re in the pole position, you’ve got great stuff for Hard Knocks and we’re out,” Robinson said. “To me, there was some value in that. You get two weeks of branding and marketing.”

The Rams are on “Hark Knocks” this year and are now back in Los Angeles, so I’m sure they’re glad to have the additional marketing angle. However, I’m not sure if this actually impacted the trade in regards to compensation.