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San Francisco 49ers: List of Quarterbacks in Play for the 2017 Season

By Peter Panacy

Nov 27, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on during a press conference following the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on during a press conference following the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Colin Kaepernick

Just because Colin Kaepernick is expected to opt out in the next few days doesn’t mean a Kap-to-SF reunion is out of the question.

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On the surface, it seems a little weird Kaepernick would walk away from $14.5 million guaranteed money in 2017. He won’t get that kind of money elsewhere, and his national anthem protests have surely turned off more than a few NFL executives around the league.

Yet Kaepernick also had to know the 49ers weren’t going to pay him that kind of money this season. He knows his leverage with the team is minimal, especially considering the whole “clean slate” approach both Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have.

So why not hit the free-agent market early before QB-needy teams have already found their options?

It’s still hard to rule out the 49ers trying to lure Kaepernick back in, but we can’t rule it out altogether.

If it does happen, a deal would be much lower than what he would have earned. Heck, San Francisco might be the only place to welcome him in. And even that’s a stretch.