Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that free agent QB Colin Kaepernick planned to take things slow in free agency and let the market develop for him. However, it now appears as though Kaepernick will get an opportunity to start for an NFL team in 2017.
As of now, Rapoport says that Kaepernick’s asking price is a question around the league. In fact, the coaches and GMs Rapoport has spoken to believe he’s looking for close to $10 million per year.
Rapoport can’t say for certain that this is his target salary, but this is apparently what some teams believe he’s looking for right now.
Earlier in the week, a report surfaced that Kaepernick was looking for around $9 – $10 million per year. However, a source who spoke with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk refuted that he’s looking for this much money and referred to the report as “completely false.”
Either way, this salary is more in line with a starting quarterback, as opposed to a backup job. If Kaepernick elects to become a backup this season, you can expect him to agree to a much lower figure, possibly with incentives that could push his salary up based on playing time and performance.
Some have openly wondered if Kaepernick’s decision to kneel for the National Anthem may be impacting the lack of interest in him at this point. Although, coaches and executives said this week that they don’t believe this is the case.
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.
This gave Kaepernick the ability to void his deal earlier in the month. He’s now testing the open market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
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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