Trade Talks Involving Colin Kaepernick Have Gone Cold, 49ers Have No Plans To Cut Him

March 17, 2016

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reports that trade talks involving QB Colin Kaepernick have gone cold in the past week, it appears as though the 49ers are preparing for him to be back with the team in 2016.

“There’s a good chance he’s still on the team the way things look now,” a source told Maiocco.

According to Maiocco’s source, the Browns, Broncos and Jets haven’t shown much urgency towards getting a trade done for Kaepernick, and the 49ers are sticking to their demands in return for their quarterback.

Maiocco mentions that San Francisco is believed to be seeking a second- or early third-round draft pick for Kaepernick at this point in time.

In regards to cutting Kaepernick before his $11.9 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed on April 1, Maiocco’s source said that they still have no plans to release him.

At one point last week, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Kaepernick was going to be trade, most likely to the Broncos or Browns. However, there has been so little buzz in the past few days about a deal that it really seems like he could be competing for the 49ers’ starting job along with Blaine Gabbert.

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.