San Francisco 49ers: ‘Keep or Cut’ Calls on 10 Notable Players for 2017
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick
You knew we had to end on this slide.
If quarterback Colin Kaepernick elects to opt out from his current contract this offseason, this point is moot.
But if he doesn’t, hoping to cash in on a $14.5 million guarantee for 2017, the Niners will be faced with the decision whether or not he’s worth keeping around one more year.
Neither Kyle Shanahan nor John Lynch have committed to a decision on Kap one way or the other, per Jerry McDonald of the San Jose Mercury News. It makes sense. Shanahan and Lynch are keeping their options open for the quarterback-hungry 49ers.
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Keep in mind, though, Kaepernick will turn 30 years old this upcoming season. It’s no longer about his maturation and development. And the physical gifts that defined his career up to this point will soon start to elude him.
The Niners will likely look for a long-term fixture in the NFL Draft but could still use a mentor to help guide a young prospect.
Can you see Kaepernick in this role? Probably not. So a stop-gap, short-term solution doesn’t make much sense either.
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In all likelihood, Kap is gone. And this fills the clean slate San Francisco needs.