Chris Biderman ranks Blaine Gabbert ahead of Colin Kaepernick

Jun 24, 2016 at 10:00 AM


placeholder image

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.

Chris Biderman of Niners Wire is currently in the midst of ranking the top 25 players on the San Francisco 49ers according to his opinion of their current value to the team. "Before the start of training camp at the end of July, we'll rank the top 25 49ers based on production at their position, physical attributes, upside and expected impact in 2016," says Biderman at the beginning of each player reveal.

Where did quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick fall within his ranking? While the entire ranking it is not yet complete, Gabbert and Kaepernick's spots have already been revealed. Gabbert came in at number 19 while his competition for the starting quarterback job, Kaepernick, came in three spots lower at number 22.

Does this mean that the team beat writer believes that Gabbert will start once the season kicks off? He calls Gabbert "the favorite to start" for the 49ers this season.

RELATED Steve Wyche: "This is going to be a fantastic quarterback battle"

"Gabbert wound up averaging 254 yards passing while completing 63 percent of his passes – both career bests," says Biderman while comparing those stats to Kaepernick's career marks of 210 yards-per-game in 2014 and 62.4 completion percentage in 2012.

"Gabbert gets the edge in overall numbers last season, but Kaepernick is the more dynamic athlete. Gabbert has a quicker release and is more accurate, while Kaepernick is more aggressive and makes more 'Wow' throws down field," he continued.

As for Gabbert's competition, Biderman said, "For now, Kaepernick has a long road ahead before taking the starting gig from Gabbert, who has been operating like it's his job since taking over midway through last season." He would point out that Kaepernick's passer rating and QBR numbers have declined each season since he became the 49ers' starting quarterback. His passer rating has fallen from 98.3 (2012) to 78.5 (2015) while his QBR has fallen from 69.0 (2012) to 47.1 (2015), per ESPN.

"Kaepernick enters training camp as the clear long shot to start," says Biderman. "He also faces uncertainty regarding his health for the first time in his career."

RELATED Why does Mike Silver believe Blaine Gabbert is the favorite in San Francisco?

Earlier this month, Kaepernick spoke a little about his injury and playing through it last season. "At the time, I didn't realize how bad things were until I went and got a second opinion and really saw what had happened. But at this point, I'm close to being 100 percent healthy," said Kaepernick while addressing the media.

Kaepernick has also lost a good deal of weight mostly due to having a limited workout routine following his multiple surgeries. Now a vegan, Kaepernick looks to add weight during the summer. "I don't know exactly how much I need to put on but I need to put on quite a bit. But that's not something I've had a problem with in the past," said Kaepernick.

Biderman is not alone in his sentiment about Gabbert being the favorite to win the starting quarterback job. Other beat writers and members of the national media have been leaning toward Gabbert winning the job based on their opinions of the situation.

The two quarterbacks will fully kick off their battle in late-July when the 49ers gather for training camp.

Enjoy this article? Follow us to never miss more!

Powered by Follow.it


Comments

More San Francisco 49ers News

placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy share final updates ahead of 49ers-Bears Week 14 matchup

By Site Staff
Dec 6

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy spoke with reporters after Friday's practice as the team prepares for its Week 14 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Here's everything they said. Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers...


placeholder image

49ers announce roster moves ahead of Sunday's matchup with Bears, place two more players on IR

By Marc Adams
Dec 7

On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears: Placed RB Jordan Mason on IR (injured reserve) Activated S Talanoa Hufanga from IR Placed S George Odum on IR Promoted OL Sebastian Gutierrez from the...


placeholder image

Injuries in the spotlight during 49ers' short week ahead of Rams game

By David Bonilla
Dec 9

The San Francisco 49ers are quickly shifting focus from Sunday's victory over the Chicago Bears to their upcoming NFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Rams. With only a few days to prepare, the 49ers will host the Rams at Levi's Stadium on Thursday night, as both teams aim...


placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan on benefits and challenges of short week ahead of 49ers-Rams showdown

By David Bonilla
Dec 9

After playing on Sunday afternoon, the San Francisco 49ers face a quick turnaround as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. A compressed week like this presents unique challenges, especially for a team dealing with injuries—a recurring issue for the...


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone