Colin Kaepernick may be having second thoughts about going to the Cleveland Browns.
It had been reported that Kaepernick favored a trade to the Browns, but that may have changed in the last few days.
According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Kaepernick has watched as the Browns lost Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz, and Travis Benjamin to free agency. While he is willing to take a pay cut to leave San Francisco, he is reportedly wary of leaving money on the table to go to a bad team that is bleeding talent and may use the second overall pick to select his eventual replacement.
Barrows noted that Kaepernick does like Browns coach Hue Jackson and would like to play for him, but doesn’t want to land in another dead-end situation. The 49ers, it is said, prefer Cleveland’s offer and had the Browns made it a week earlier, Kaepernick could be theirs by now.
Kaepernick would also be interested in playing for Denver, as it is a strong team and a stable situation where he would be unlikely to be supplanted quickly. However, the Broncos’ offer of a third round pick is not sufficient for San Francisco. The Jets have also shown interest in Kaepernick, but they haven’t made an offer and are probably prioritizing Ryan Fitzpatrick. Things could change on that front if Fitzpatrick lands elsewhere.
The quarterback market is at something of a standstill right now, and there’s no clear indication of where Kaepernick’s future lies. Remember, the 49ers would reportedly be happy to keep him if nobody gives him – and them – what they want.
