Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s future in San Francisco is uncertain, particularly now that Chip Kelly is head coach and there are also financial details to consider, but 49ers GM Trent Baalke stated to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that he expects Kaepernick to be on the roster come April 1 and to compete with Blaine Gabbert for the starting quarterback’s job.
Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee reported the update on Twitter.
Trent Baalke in Indy says he expects Kaepernick to be on roster on April 1, says expectation is that Kap, Gabbert compete for starting job.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) February 24, 2016
The April 1 date is interesting in particular, since that is when Kaepernick’s $11.9 million salary for 2016 becomes fully guaranteed. For someone who has done nothing but slowly regress since helping bring the Niners to the Super Bowl three years ago and missed a good chunk of last season due to various injuries and also has had multiple surgeries the past several months, that’s a lot of money.
What’s even more interesting is how open Baalke was about how Kaepernick will have to earn his starting job in spite of his status with the team, especially considering how Gabbert went 3-5 as San Francisco’s starter last season and was generally mediocre.
Needless to say, it’s going to be intriguing to see how the situation plays out, be it with Kaepernick agreeing to restructure his contract and stay in San Francisco or forcing a deal, if not being cut outright.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
