Mike Klis of 9News reports that the Broncos decision to trade LT Ryan Clady to the Jets has no impact on a potential trade for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick.
Denver will pick up $8.9 million in cap space by moving Clady, which seems like a big boost to their ability to fit Kaepernick into their 2016 salary cap.
However, a source tells Klis that this isn’t the case and their offer of $7 million in 2016 is on par with the going rate for “elite backup quarterbacks.”
In fact, Klis adds that the Broncos are only willing to give Kaepernick an opportunity to compete for the starting job with Mark Sanchez, and aren’t willing to hand him the job.
The Broncos would, however, give him the ability to earn the $4.9 million difference back through incentives.
Kaepernick’s salary became guaranteed last week, and Klis’ source says he has no plans to accept a reduced salary from the Broncos now that it’s guaranteed.
Even with the remaining obsticles, Klis says that a trade isn’t dead right now and the next deadline is likely to be April 28, which happens to be the start of the NFL draft.
Earlier in the week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said that the chances are “75-25” Kaepernick will remain with the 49ers for the 2016 season.
Schefter did say that the Broncos could still make another run at trading for Kaepernick once the draft draws closer. However, Schefter seems to think the 49ers could be his best option, especially after Kaepernick begins working with new HC Chip Kelly and gets a feel for how he fits into the offense.
Kaepernick, 28, is in 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.
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 a Kaepernick trade as the news is available.
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