Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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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
Nick Bosa was a monster in 2022. He'll probably be a monster again in 2023. The San Francisco 49ers pass rusher is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NFL with 18.5 sacks and frustrating so many opposing quarterbacks.
It's no surprise to see Bosa on Next Gen Stats' list of the top 10 disruptors of 2022. The defensive end comes in at No. 2 in the ranking, with only Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys ahead of him. After such an impressive campaign, why isn't Bosa listed in the top spot?
"Well, it was a narrow miss," writer Nick Shook admits. "Bosa's totals are right up there with the top player on this
Nick Bosa isn't stressing over his contract negotiations. Why should he? The pass rusher has built an impressive resume since the San Francisco 49ers made him the No. 2 overall pick in 2019.
Bosa's nine sacks in 2019 helped him earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. His 2020 campaign was cut short by an ACL injury, but it wasn't enough to slow down the talented defensive end. Bosa led the 49ers with 15.5 sacks the next season.
Bosa racked up a league-leading 18.5 sacks last season on his way to being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The 49ers bought themselves some time by exercising the 25-year-old's fifth-year option, ensuring he remains with the team through the upcoming season. Ideally, though, the Niners would like to get a long-term deal done,
The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, which means defensive end Nick Bosa finally reported to the team. The NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been training in Florida and didn't participate in organized team activities (OTAs). He didn't practice on Tuesday either, but he was in attendance.
Of course, none of that is out of the ordinary for the talented pass rusher.
Wednesday will be the final minicamp practice. The team will likely gather for a family day on Thursday before breaking for the summer.
Bosa is entering his fifth NFL season and will undoubtedly soon become the NFL's highest-paid defensive player. The two sides are working towards a contract extension, and the defensive end is confident that something
As the sun rose over the horizon, fans of the San Francisco 49ers came from all over, with great anticipation, as General Manager, John Lynch, slowly trudged his way upon the hill, disappearing into the fog for just a moment, and reappearing with Kyle Shanahan, to proclaim Brock Purdy the heir to the 49ers' QB throne. (Cue the "Circle of Life" track!)
Alright, so it wasn't exactly like that. But the 49ers' brass has made it a point this offseason to ensure everyone knows Purdy is the team's starting quarterback, once he's healthy. And while it may have lacked the drama of a scene from The Lion King, the declaration was just as impactful. (You know, if we could have had Lynch look out over the kingdom, and then hold young Purdy up in front of the team's cheering
