Colin Kaepernick Is Beyond Fixing In a 49ers Uniform

It was just three years ago that quarterback Colin Kaepernick was helping to restore the prestige and dynastic aura to the San Francisco 49ers.

After wresting the starting QB role away from a concussed Alex Smith, Kaepernick devastated opponents with a mix of deft passing and clutch running. Although the 49ers came up short in Super Bowl 47, the stage was set for Kaepernick to be the next great 49ers’ quarterback.

San Francisco 49ers

Two non-playoff seasons later, one in which he was benched in favored of former first-round bust, Blaine Gabbert, and Kaepernick’s future looked bleak with the Niners. The hiring of new head coach Chip Kelly seemed to invigorate his chances of staying with the Niners, with Kelly privately telling reporters that Kaepernick was looking forward to working with him. General Manager Trent Baalke also confirmed earlier this week that Kaepernick would be competing for a quarterback spot, and hence his $11.9 million salary cap figure would be guaranteed on April 1st.

Then Thursday came to further muddle the situation. Contrary to Kelly and Baalke’s comments, Kaepernick’s agents reportedly sought permission to look for trade options from the Niners. So what gives?

It is clear that there is a disconnect between Kaepernick and the Niners. Since the end of the season there have been whispers of his departure, including a report that Kaepernick desired to be traded to the New York Jets. Then the Niners somewhat surprisingly hired Kelly in what seemed like a reprieve for Kaepernick.

Kelly seemed like a natural fit to unlock what has been mitigated from the Niners’ offense the past two seasons- the quarterback runs. This had to be a positive for Kaepernick moving forward, but in reality it may have confirmed something deeper.

For whatever reason, Kaepernick became less willing as a runner over the past two seasons. Even as the read option was phased out of the Niners’ playbook, Kaepernick seemed determined to prove himself as a capable thrower. This could be attributed to pundits questioning whether he would ever be able to develop into an accurate pocket passer who could go through all his progressions.

Kelly’s hiring should have signaled support for Kaepernick to return and start over in his Niners career. But it’s highly possible that Kaepernick no longer wanted to be viewed as a running quarterback. It showed in his play last season- forced throws under pressure that led to turnovers, wildly overthrown passes while sitting in the pocket and taking huge sacks when he should have tucked it and run.

Kaepernick’s laundry list of injuries and surgeries after his benching seemed to legitimize that he had a point in not being as willing of a runner, but to take away his greatest asset while he was failing as a pocket passer proves that Kaepernick’s time as a 49er is over. Play calling and coaching philosophy aside, Kaepernick had been given ample time to show improvement as a cerebral passer and did not meet those expectations.

Whether Kelly was the best fit for the franchise for the present time, he certainly was a hire that would cater more towards Kaepernick’s greatest attributes. Kelly at the very least was a fan of his skill set and was ready and willing to work with Kaepernick to get him back to prominence as a true dual threat quarterback.

The trade demand at this juncture in time is telling of how far gone the relationship between the Niners and Kaepernick has come. Rather than take the $11.9 guaranteed money coming his way on April 1, after Baalke publicly stated he would remain with the Niners, Kaepernick would prefer a clean slate with a new team. Not to mention, with a top draft pick and over $50 million to possibly spend on free agents, the pieces are there for the Niners to improve rapidly based off last year’s team.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: Kaepernick Situation Kicks Off Soap Opera Season

It has been quite a fall from potential super stardom for Kaepernick, and unfortunately it looks like it would be best for all parties if he has seen his finals days in a 49ers uniform. All that remains to be answered is what return the Niners are able to get for Kaepernick to contribute to their rebuild.