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NFL Free Agency: Breaking Down the 49ers Free Agents, Cap Casualties in 2017

By Peter Panacy

Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) before the game against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) before the game against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) before playing against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) before playing against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Cut Candidate No. 4: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick

OK, time for the final piece of a convoluted puzzle.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has certainly been the focus of much offseason speculation.

Let’s save the details — we know them already — and instead look at the likelihood of Kap returning to San Francisco in 2017.

Kaepernick has known issues with 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. But Baalke could be gone this offseason. Would that entice the quarterback to stay?

Perhaps, and the $14.5 million in guaranteed money he’d get next year is vastly higher than anything he’d receive on the open market:

But it’s entirely possible Kap wants to put the 49ers behind him and move on.

Even if he stayed, would the Niners want to retain him? San Francisco clearly needs a QB upgrade sooner rather than later. And who knows if the next regime in Santa Clara views Kaepernick as a viable option under center.

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Releasing him makes sense, even financially. A cut would generate $16.9 million in savings next year. And the 49ers would be through with any perceived distractions or issues in the wake of his national anthem protest.

It’s nearly impossible to view any scenario where San Francisco and Kap reunite in 2017.

Next: 5 Moves the 49ers Need to Make this Offseason

For that alone, he won’t be in a Niners uniform next year.