San Francisco 49ers: Latest News, Rumors & Reports on Quarterback Colin Kaepernick

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains on the roster for the San Francisco 49ers, and all trade speculation seems to be dead in the water. With the 2016 NFL Draft fast approaching, what’s the latest on Kaepernick’s uncertain future?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is on the team’s roster until, well, he isn’t.

That’s the case with the Niners’ embattled signal-caller as the team gears itself up for the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft. Not long ago, signs pointed to Kaepernick being dealt during the offseason — the likely suitor being the quarterback-hungry Denver Broncos.

Yet that deal never materialized. The Broncos didn’t want to pay Kaepernick’s guaranteed 2016 salary and wanted him to take a pay cut. Kap didn’t want to do this, and understandably so, and the 49ers didn’t want to eat the remainder of the deal to make the trade happen.

Kaepernick showed up for the team’s first session of voluntary workouts, which isn’t much of a surprise considering the bonus associated with the event’s participation.

But none of this means Kaepernick is guaranteed to remain in Santa Clara for the 2016 season.

For what it’s worth, Kaepernick met with Broncos general manager John Elway twice this offseason prior to trade rumors between Denver and San Francisco really heating up. Yet Kap has yet to meet with 49ers general manager Trent Baalke, per Eric Branch of SFGate.com.

Baalke has noted, on more than one occasion, he would like to have Kaepernick on the roster for the upcoming year. Similar sentiments have been echoed by head coach Chip Kelly as well.

Although Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reported Baalke wouldn’t rule out a trade from happening either.

It doesn’t take too much to realize the relationship between Kaepernick and the front office is stained — stemming from the issues surrounding Kap especially after the “mutual” parting of ways between the organization and former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was widely regarded as the quarterback’s biggest ally within the franchise.

And, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, nothing has been done to repair any relationship between the two sides:

"I still doubt that come May the 49ers really have this quarterback hanging around at OTAs, when he doesn’t want to be there, and ownership really doesn’t want him there, either.Which is why the Broncos won’t budge, as they know there is still a chance he agrees to an injury settlement with San Francisco and is available as a free agent anyway.Literally nothing at all has occurred to in any way repair this broken marriage, and I wouldn’t anticipate much movement on the trade front until the eve of the draft, or during the draft itself (should the Broncos not take a quarterback in the first round).That’s when things will heat up and this long, drawn-out affair will actually have a sense of urgency."

ESPN’s Adam Schefter (h/t Pat Holloway of Niners Nation) also backed up the notion of a future Kaepernick deal, when Schefter appeared on Denver’s 104.3 The Fan:

"The same people that were telling me [about the Browns/Rams trade] that, three of them, telling me a deal was getting done between those two sides said San Fransisco and Kaepernick are going to have to end in a divorce. I think most people believe that is a difficult relationship to have to continue. And if they’re right and I believe they are, they’re going to have to move him and if they have to move him, there is one logical landing spot."

A lot of this will hinge on what happens in the upcoming draft.

The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles made blockbuster trades to move up to pick Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, and both teams are expected to take a quarterback. Cal’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz are viewed as the top-two QBs available in this year’s draft class, and it’s feasible they are the first two prospects taken in the draft itself.

Denver, with quarterback needs of its own, holds the 31st overall pick in the draft. The Broncos could be looking at a prospect like Michigan State’s Connor Cook, who will likely be available towards the tail end of Round 1.

Additionally, Denver has Mark Sanchez on its roster to fill the positional void and, according to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the Broncos are meeting with free-agent quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Here’s what’s likely to happen.

The 49ers aren’t likely going to take a quarterback early in the draft. They already have two starting-caliber QBs on their roster — the other being Blaine Gabbert. And Baalke will likely let the draft — the first round, at least — play out to see what the Broncos do with their first-round pick.

Even if Elway lands a quarterback like Cook, or someone else, that doesn’t rule out a trade either. It all depends on how comfortable Denver is rolling out a competition between Sanchez, a rookie and/or any free-agent acquisition between now and some undetermined date.

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But recent reports suggest the 49ers might be leaning more towards dealing Kaepernick rather than retaining him, which stands in contrast to some of the news we’ve heard earlier.

The whole situation has become more muddied and confusing, but developments can change in a hurry.

In the meantime, Kap is still a 49er until he isn’t.

Next: How Colin Kaepernick Saga Affects 49ers Draft Plans

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.