Fleet-footed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is seeking a deal that would put him on footing with some of the league’s best paid signal-callers.
Just two years in as starter, and NFL.com is reporting “Kaep” is seeking a deal in the neighborhood of $18 million a season, on par with such handsomely compensated vets as Jay Cutler and Tony Romo.
Then again, in that short period of time, Kaepernck has something neither of his aforementioned peers can boast of in their 16 seasons combined, namely twice as many playoff wins. If the 49ers aren’t inclined to see things Kaepernick’s way, the website reports the versatile signal-caller is considering playing out the 2014 season on his current salary of $973,766 and cashing in as a free agent next offseason.
While that might open up countless possibilities for Kaepernick, it clearly puts the squeeze on the Niners, as such maneuvering would enable to sign with any other team.
A deal netting $18 million a season would still only tie Kaepernick for seventh in pay among quarterbacks, behind such statistically lesser beings as the Ravens’ Joe Flacco ($20.1 million) and the Falcons’ Matt Ryan ($20.7).
“No one expects the 49ers to let Kaepernick go anywhere,” recently wrote Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin, all the while implying that it’s widely believed by all that Kaepernck plans to use that leverage for all its worth.
Brilliant as he’s appeared at times, Kaepernick completed only 58.4 percent of his passes last season, the worst among top 10 quarterbacks in Football Outsiders’ QB efficiency metric. Even more analysis concludes that when Kaepernick faces pressure, his completion percentage drops to 43.6 and his accuracy percentage drops to 55.1, last among all NFL starters.
Still, the third-year vet is 21-8 in games he has started, including leading the Niners to the Super Bowl in 2012 and the NFC title game the following season.
