SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After months of trade talk and speculation, Colin Kaepernick is still on San Francisco’s roster and due a hefty payday.
The quarterback’s $11.9 million 2016 contract became guaranteed at 1 p.m. local time Thursday when the 49ers kept him on the roster.
While potential new teams for Kaepernick — Denver had been considered a serious suitor given the retirement of Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler’s departure to Houston in free agency — might ask him to restructure his current deal, Kaepernick wouldn’t have to accept anything less than the $11.9 million.
Former first-round pick Blaine Gabbert took over in November for the benched Kaepernick, who has since undergone shoulder and thumb surgeries.
New coach Chip Kelly said two weeks ago he had spoken recently to Kaepernick and was hopeful the mobile quarterback would still be on San Francisco’s roster when the off-season program begins this coming Monday.