Report: Colin Kaepernick Looking For $18M Annually In New Contract

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports that QB Colin Kaepernick is looking for a “similar or slightly better” contract to the one signed by Bears’ QB Jay Cutler.

• Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area previously reported that Kaepernick could use Cutler’s deal as the “floor” for negotiations with 49ers.
• Ian Rapoport adds that Kaepernick is looking for even more than this.

According to Volin, if the 49ers don’t come close to Kaepernick’s asking price, he is prepared to play out the final year of his rookie contract and postpone negotiations until next offseason, rather than agree to a below-market value contract.

Cutler, 30, signed a seven-year contract worth $126.7 million that included $54 million guaranteed following the season. However, the most important figure in Cutler’s contract is the fact that he will receive $18 million per year over the first three seasons. After that, Chicago can reconsider the contract in 2017.

Kaepernick, 26, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will make $973,766 for the 2014 season. Given how successful he’s been since taking over for Alex Smith during the 2012 season, and the fact that he’s still young, it really wouldn’t be surprising to see him do better than Cutler in terms of guaranteed money with his next contract.

Kaepernick has said previously that it will be important for the two sides to find a balance that will allow San Francisco address other players like WR Michael Crabtree and OLB Aldon Smith who will be entering the year of their rookie contracts as well, but sounds like that may have been a little overstated.

We’ll have more regarding the 49ers negotiations with Kaepernick as the news is available.