Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains a free agent. While his landing spot has yet to be determined, let’s look at a clear possibility — him landing with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.
Colin Kaepernick to the Seattle Seahawks.
It’s hard to gauge how that would make most San Francisco 49ers fans feel. If anything, it would certainly pour a bit more fuel on what otherwise has been a dormant rivalry between these two NFC West franchises.
And yet it’s not out of the realm of possibility either. There’s a good argument Seattle would be a good fit for the former Niners quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers
Vinnie Iyer of SportingNews.com put together this suggestion, which got me thinking about this unlikely scenario.
He wrote:
"As weird as Seattle might sound because of Kaepernick and San Francisco’s history against their NFC West rival, it’s the likeliest of unlikely destinations.It would come with Kaepernick having to live with the disappointment of not being signed as a starting NFL quarterback. But it also would come with a great opportunity for the 29-year-old to get his career back on track, in the right place."
Yes, this would mean joining the team that continuously proved to be Kap’s biggest nemesis, even when he was at his prime. It would mean joining the ranks with cornerback Richard Sherman, who mocked Kaepernick with a choking gesture after that final interception in the waning minutes of the 2014 NFC Championship game.
All of it sounds too weird. And yet it makes sense, strangely.
I think the best option for Kaepernick might just be Seattle backing up RW. Strong organization and scheme that fits his skill set.
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) March 22, 2017
Russell Wilson Needs an Adequate Backup
The Seahawks may have lost a bit of that luster had in recent seasons. But they remain top dogs in the NFC West and a perennial postseason contender.
If there is a glaring weakness, it’s Seattle’s offensive line. According to Football Outsiders, the Seahawks O-line ranked 26th in run blocking and 25th in pass protection. By comparison, the Niners ranked 32nd and 30th, respectively, in each category last year. And yet Kaepernick managed to have a moderate-to-decent season under center lacking talent all around him.
Nevertheless, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was under duress for most of the year in 2016.
Seattle gave up 42 sacks — sixth most in the NFL. And the early season ankle injury Wilson suffered was enough to make any Seahawks fan worry.
The Seahawks have Trevone Boykin, an undrafted free agent from a year ago, penciled in as the team’s primary backup. Not exactly a confidence-inspiring name should Wilson go down.
Colin Kaepernick and His Protest
If you believe Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman, Kaepernick’s 2016 protest is still turning off NFL executives around the league and is probably a major reason behind why Kap remains unsigned.
Sure, many of the QB-needy teams out there probably want nothing to do with Kaepernick.
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But Seattle is a bit different. Head coach Pete Carroll has long championed his players to be individuals, as 49ers fans have certainly come to see in recent years.
Furthermore, even though Kap plans on standing for the national anthem this year, the quarterback already has the support from a number of Seahawks players. As Iyer pointed out, both Sherman and cornerback Jeremy Lane voiced supportive understanding.
And Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett was also very vocal on the situation and echoed his support.
So maybe, just maybe, the entire Seahawks team could rally around Kaepernick’s causes and stance, much like many of the 49ers did a year ago. Kaepernick did receive San Francisco’s Len Eshmont award in 2016, awarded to the player demonstrating courage and inspiration.
Still, it all sounds too weird to just happen like that. But it’s not the strangest notion either.
Next: 5 Possible Destinations for Colin Kaepernick
And for that reason alone, it deserves some exploration.