NFL Network’s Mike Silver says the 49ers and Broncos have been talking and he thinks they are on the same page as to compensation, but the Browns could still “swoop in” and take Kaepernick. The Cleveland Browns haven’t resolved their perennial quarterback quandary, though the draft might fix that.
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Colin Kaepernick wants to play in Cleveland for new Browns coach Hue Jackson, multiple sources told ESPN.
Jackson previously served as the head coach for the Oakland Raiders before heading to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he last held the position of offensive coordinator. They lost starting center Alex Mack, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and receiver Travis Benjamin. “But after getting sacked 80 times in the last 1 1/2 seasons and having three surgeries since December, he’s wary of taking a lower-money deal on a bad team that is losing talent and that may also use its first-round pick, No. 2 overall, on a quarterback”.
Kaepernick’s trade request came after Kelly was hired. 49ers Insider Ryan Sakamoto answered whether or not Kaepernick will ever be back as a 49er.
Now as Kaepernick works toward a clean bill of health, he’ll likely get a fresh start on a new team.
If he is on the San Francisco roster on April 1, his $11.9 million base salary for 2016 becomes guaranteed. It’s logical that the 49ers want Denver’s second-round pick, which is two spots better than the Browns’ third-round pick.
The Broncos got an extensive, up-close look at Kaepernick this past summer, when the 49ers practiced for two days at the Broncos’ training facility before their August 29 exhibition.
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The 49ers have also made it clear that they’re willing to keep Kaepernick if they don’t like the offers and let him compete for the starting job with Blaine Gabbert in Chip Kelly’s offense. That didn’t spark a 49ers turnaround, and instead it brought to public light the mistrust between Kaepernick and the 49ers’ front office that stewed for many months.
