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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Burning Questions for 2016 Training Camp

By Peter Panacy

July 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) stretches during training camp at the SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
July 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) stretches during training camp at the SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Who Emerges as the 49ers’ No. 1 Quarterback?

The 2016 NFL Draft revealed the Niners weren’t too worried about their situation under center in 2016.

Yes, the 49ers drafted former Louisiana Tech quarterback Jeff Driskel in Round 6, but this move seems to be little more than camp competition and, at best, a project player for the 49ers to develop.

So that means quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert will be battling it out for the No. 1 job this season.

Niner Noise’s Rich Madrid put together a two-part series on whether or not Kaepernick or Gabbert should be the starter this season. His conclusion, in short, was neither quarterback was truly ideal.

Tack on Kaepernick’s trade request from earlier this offseason — and it’s hard to blame Kap for wanting a change of scenery — and this question remains at the top of concerns the 49ers have entering training camp.

Which player wins out will have some serious consequences for the rest of the season.

Should Kaepernick get the nod, will he retain it? And would he be happy remaining the primary backup option behind Gabbert? Not likely.

And if Gabbert wins out, is he a long-term option under center? It’s doubtful. Yet the 49ers might be tabling this problem for later on as the team looks to rebuild and reconstruct itself elsewhere on the roster this season.

At any rate, the 49ers aren’t likely going to be very good until they can find an established option at this crucial position.

More from Niner Noise

The 49ers aren’t unlike other NFL teams facing crucial questions this offseason. But the Niners certainly have bigger ones to ask and answer — as last year’s standings and this year’s wholesale changes suggest — which place an even greater emphasis on the offseason.

San Francisco may not be drastically better in 2016. But will the team show improvements?

That remains to be seen.

Next: Early Projections for 49ers 2016 Rookie Class

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