LISTEN: Why all positions (Except QB) Should Be In Play In The Draft →
placeholder image

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports


Chris Biderman ranks Blaine Gabbert ahead of Colin Kaepernick

Jun 24, 2016 at 10:00 AM--


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.



Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

49ers hold private workout for former Ohio State DB Amir Riep ahead of draft

By David Bonilla
Mar 22

Former Ohio State cornerback Amir Riep played at Lincoln University in Oakland, California, last season. His last season with the Buckeyes was in 2019. While he was dismissed from the program after being charged with rape, the defender was ultimately found not guilty. Now, he aims to prove he can play in the NFL. Justin Melo of The Draft Network reports that the San Francisco 49ers recently flew Riep out for a private in-person


placeholder image

No Huddle Podcast: What Are The 49ers' Plans For The Future?

By Site Staff
Mar 19

(Episode 322) — Al Sacco and Brian Renick react to the Zach Wilson rumors, what the 49ers should look for in QB2, negative Al speaks up, how the offensive side of the ball is complete for now, replacing all of the superstars will be a challenge, why the 49ers need to draft well this year and next, and more. Note: This episode was recorded before news of Josh Dobbs' signing. The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe! You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from our dedicated podcast page, on


placeholder image

Details emerge on 49ers' 1-year deals with Jon Feliciano and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

By Site Staff
Mar 19

Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles recently re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers on one-year deals. OverTheCap.com has revealed the contract information for both deals. Feliciano signed a contract that includes the minimum base salary for a player with eight accrued seasons of experience—$1.21 million. Flannigan-Fowles' base salary is slightly higher, at about $1.77 million. Feliciano is scheduled to count about $2.28 million against the 2024 salary cap, while Flannigan-Fowles is slated to consume almost $1.3 million. The linebacker's reduced impact is due to the 49ers using a portion of up to $1.45 million of salary that won't count against the salary cap for veteran players. The 49ers are paying Feliciano a


placeholder image

New Netflix show "Receiver" will feature 49ers' Deebo Samuel and George Kittle

By David Bonilla
Mar 19

After the success of "Quarterback," the NFL has announced a new series on Netflix called "Receiver." This series will follow a similar format but focus on those who haul in passes. San Francisco 49ers fans will be delighted to learn that two popular team players, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, will be among those featured in the upcoming show. The two 49ers stars are among the most charismatic individuals on the roster, so it's easy to see why they were chosen for the series. The other stars of the show will be Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, and Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone