Browns & Jets No Longer In The Running For Colin Kaepernick

March 24, 2016

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Browns and Jets are officially out of the running for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick.

The Browns elected to sign QB Robert Griffin III to a two-year, $15 million contract earlier in the day and could still draft a quarterback, so this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

However, the Jets are still looking for a starting quarterback and reportedly aren’t anywhere close to an agreement with free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Reports from a few weeks ago mentioned that New York could be a landing spot for Kaepernick, but it appears as though their interest has been largely overblown.

The Broncos have appeared to be the most likely trade partner for Kaepernick all along, but you have to wonder if the news of the Browns and Jets no longer being in the mix for the 49ers’ quarterback will lead to them digging in on what they’re willing to offer in a potential trade.

San Francisco has maintained that they’re happy to keep Kaepernick on their roster, even though some have wondered if they’re actually bluffing about keeping him past April 1.

Kaepernick, 28, is entering the third year of his seven-year, $126.97 million contract that included $61 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $13.9 million for the 2016 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, as long as Kaepernick is healthy.

The April 1 first is especially important in regards to Kaepernick, as his base salary becomes guaranteed for the 2016 season at that point.

According to OverTheCap.com, trading Kaepernick would free up $8,493,493 in available cap space and create $7,397,260 in dead money.

In 2015, Kaepernick threw for 1,615 yards while completing 59.3 percent of his passes to go along with six touchdowns and five interceptions over the course of eight games. He also added 228 yards rushing and a touchdown.

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