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Pro Football Focus ranked the five worst quarterback contracts on Monday, which lists the five most overpaid players at that position. Of course, San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Colin Kaepernick, who's contract was once considered one of the most team-friendly in the league, came in at number five on the list. As with all things in the NFL, things change quickly. Kaepernick's contract will compile an estimated $95.7 million in combined cap hits over the next five seasons.
One of the factors in
Pro Football Focus' list was length of contract. Kaepernick is signed through the 2020 season. Another factor was the average cap hit per year over the remaining years on the quarterback's contract. Kaepernick has an average cap hit of $19.1 million per year.
Lastly, the site factored in the season in which the team can cut the quarterback and have more cap savings than dead money. For Kaepernick, that number was more team-friendly because it comes as early as 2017. If the 49ers were to cut Kaepernick in 2017, they would only have $4.9 million in dead money – a much smaller number than the $19.3 million in dead money that would be created if the team were to cut him this year.
Of course, it is possible that Kaepernick plays enough this season to prove to the 49ers' new coaching staff that he is still a starting caliber player. If that were the case and if the 49ers were to retain Kaepernick for more years, that dead money would continue to shrink significantly over time. If the team were to release him in 2018, the dead money would only be about $2.5 million. In 2019 and 2020, the final two years of his contract, there would be no dead money resulting from a release.
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If Kaepernick were one of the better starting quarterbacks in the league, his numbers would not seem so outlandish. After all, his base salary ranks as the 13th best among NFL quarterbacks and his cap hit comes in at 17th.
The problem is that Kaepernick may not even be a starting quarterback in 2016. He will enter a quarterback competition with
Blaine Gabbert once training camp kicks off in late-July. If he were to lose that competition, his salary would easily make him the highest paid backup quarterback in the league. The next closest would be Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Chad Henne, who will earn a base salary of $4.5 million.
Not only that, but his salary is the highest on the team, with a base salary more than double that of the next closest player, linebacker
NaVorro Bowman.
"Colin Kaepernick has been on a sharp decline since his 2012 breakout season. In 2015, he was one of the least-accurate quarterbacks in the NFL, with an adjusted completion percentage of 68.3, third-worst in the league," says Nathan Jahnke of
Pro Football Focus. "When he was under pressure, he averaged just 3.6 yards per passing attempt. If he doesn't end up starting for the 49ers in 2016, he will easily be among the lowest values per dollar of all players in the NFL in 2015."
Kaepernick was ranked by
Pro Football Focus as the 37th best overall quarterback in the league last season. Gabbert came in a bit higher as the site's 27th ranked quarterback in 2015.
Of course, none of this will matter if Kaepernick can win the starting quarterback job and flourish within Chip Kelly's offense. Then, his numbers seem a lot more friendly. Plus, with $49.5 million in salary cap space per the latest NFLPA report, the 49ers are not in a crunch to make a decision on Kaepernick.
Colin Kaepernick contract at a glance
Signed through: 2020
Average remaining base salary per year: $15.4 million
Average remaining cap hit per year: $19.1 million
2016 base salary: $11.9 million
2017 base salary: $14.5 million
2018 base salary: $15 million
2019 base salary: $16.8 million
2020 base salary: $19 million
2016 cap hit: $15.9 million
2017 cap hit: $19.4 million
2018 cap hit: $19.9 million
2019 cap hit: $19.2 million
2020 cap hit: $21.4 million
* Cap numbers from Spotrac.com
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
During the NFL owners' meetings, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York noted the significant rise in quarterback salaries in recent years. However, he acknowledged the market value of such players, recognizing that he'll have to sign a substantial check for his young quarterback, Brock Purdy, next year.
York stated, "And to me, the quarterback is the most important position, not just in football, but in all sports, and those guys should be paid a lot."
Last week, Brock Purdy addressed York's comments, showing no concern about the financial implications that will arise next year. Instead, he
Brock Purdy set a San Francisco 49ers single-season record in 2023, throwing for 4,280 passing yards. Many of those yards came on passes to his top target, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a team-leading and career-high 1,342 receiving yards.
Purdy and Aiyuk have developed great chemistry on the football field, and the quarterback would like to build upon that for years to come. However, that is out of his control, and Aiyuk's future is in the hands of the front office.
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Purdy trusts the process, acknowledging that the 49ers' decision-makers have done a commendable job
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will be present today as the team reports for the start of its offseason program. Purdy was a little early, as he hosted a youth football camp over the weekend.
Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group spoke to the 49ers quarterback during the event and asked him about one of his teammates, Brandon Aiyuk. The star wide receiver is currently in contract extension negotiations with the 49ers, and the team has emphasized keeping him around for the foreseeable future as an offseason priority.
Purdy has
