Just as it appeared rumors of a potential divorce between Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers were dying down, the team threw a relatively big curve ball our way on Tuesday.
Normally as quiet as a mouse when it comes to speaking to the media, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke had some rather interesting comments regarding the team’s embattled quarterback:
#49ers GM Trent Baalke says he has had "discussions with several teams" regarding #ColinKaepernick and "it's gone no farther than that."
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) March 22, 2016
The use of “several teams” is intriguing here for multiple reasons. By now it’s well known that San Francisco has engaged in trade discussions with both the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos regarding the former second-round pick.
Talks with the Broncos reportedly broke down due to a differing opinion on compensation heading back to San Francisco in any potential deal.
Meanwhile, Kaepernick himself seems to be taking issue with Cleveland’s off-season plans thus far — a reality that could have stalled talks on that front. Since then, the Browns have reportedly moved on from Kaepernick, instead focusing on Robert Griffin III in free agency.
We then have the entire New York Jets situation. They are still without a starting quarterback with Ryan Fitzpatrick remaining on the free-agent market.
The Jets have been linked to Kaepernick. Though, a previous report indicated that the quarterback did not want to play in New Jersey.
With Kaepernick’s options potentially dwindling and the draft quickly approaching, this whole situation is about to come to a head. That’s magnified further by the amount of teams seemingly unsettled at quarterback right now.
When Baalke tells us he has had conversations with “several” teams, it seems to be a suggestion that there’s more interest in the quarterback than what was previously thought.
In this, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see reports of other teams engaging in trade talks with San Francisco moving forward.
As it relates to the 49ers’ quarterback situation, it also remains unsettled. If Kaepernick were traded, incumbent Blaine Gabbert would likely compete with a rookie for the starting job. If not, San Francisco would then look in another direction with the seventh pick in next month’s draft.
In any event, this is likely the next domino to fall in order for the quarterback market to reset itself. We should have a conclusion here before anything is decided on Fitzpatrick and RGIII.
Stay tuned.