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San Francisco 49ers: Full Predictions for the 2016 NFL Season

By Peter Panacy

Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) rushes for a gain against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) rushes for a gain against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Gabbert 49ers
Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert Gets the Nod in 2016

So here’s a prediction for you — quarterback Blaine Gabbert will be the 49ers starter by the time Week 1 rolls around.

For further details, just watch the video below:

Gabbert may be the favorite to win the starting job, and it isn’t just because he received first-team reps during OTAs while Kaepernick was not yet cleared to practice following offseason surgeries.

The video tells you what you need to know. Apparently, Gabbert is favored more within San Francisco’s locker room. And he may have a better control of the offense. Various reports, dating back to 2015, also suggested Gabbert spent more time studying film.

But what about the skill set?

Well, that’s the tough part to digest. While Gabbert has a cannon for an arm, he also has similar accuracy problems as Kaepernick. And it’s hard to state Gabbert is the better athlete overall.

Tack on Kaepernick’s stained relationship with the front office, and it’s hard to ignore why the Niners’ brass may be pulling for Gabbert to win out. Heck, the front office might even enforce it for all we know.

This draws us back to Kaepernick going bust. Again, it might not be his fault. His situation is a result of the context. And it’s not a good one.

Next: 2016 Stat Leaders