At first glance the $114 million contract the San Francisco 49ers lavished quarterback Colin Kaepernick with in 2014 may have seemed a bit rich, but dig deeper and you'll notice the 49ers put in some full-proof fail safes to protect themselves. San Fran, perhaps aware that Kaepernick was still a callow QB despite his Super Bowl run, can part ways with their signal-caller without taking a costly financial hit after just two seasons.
It was a unique contract setup for a supposedly top tier quarterback at the time. But after a down 2014 season and San Fran's 1-2 start to this season, it's fair to wonder whether or not the 49ers are considering severing ties with Kaepernick before his $11.9 million base salary in 2016 becomes fully guaranteed in the Spring.
While Kaepernick looks somewhat removed from the dynamic playmaker he was just a few short years ago, ESPN NFL insider Mike Sano believes that San Francisco will stick with him for the foreseeable future.
"Kaepernick ranks 25th in passer rating and has a 9-10 starting record since signing the deal," Sando wrote. "He's coming off a four-interception performance during a 40-point defeat at Arizona. That puts Kaepernick at a career low point with 13 games remaining to show the 49ers he's worth the big bucks. It sounds dramatic and it's a discussion worth having, but there is a lot less intrigue than the looming contractual off-ramp would have us believe. The odds are strongly in favor of Kaepernick remaining the 49ers' starter beyond this season even if he isn't exactly what the team would like to have behind center."
Overall, Kaepernick has thrown for 567 yards with two touchdowns against four interceptions (and two fumbles) while completing 64.8 percent of his passes. He's also rushed 23 times for 138 yards (6.0 YPC) and one score.
The game against Arizona was obviously a disaster. No one is trying to defend him for that one. But Kaep took care of the ball in a 20-3 victory over the Minnesota Vikings and was downright impressive in a 43-18 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers that fell more on the defense's shoulder than it did on his.
Is Kaepernick a perfect quarterback? No. But is that dynamic playmaker and winner still in there somewhere? The 49ers owe it to themselves to give it enough time to find out.
