NFL Free Agency news: Colin Kaepernick ready for minimum salary deal, dipping into politics takes toll

Colin Kaepernick continues to wait on NFL offers, though no team has come close to offering the former San Francisco 49er quarterback anything. There is growing belief that the 29-year-old is asking for the stars, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

According to the Mercury News, sources reveal that Colin Kaepernick has not even come close to holding serious talks with any NFL team. Such comes as a surprise, considering the NFL has been a quarterback-centric league.

The 2017 NFL Draft is over and done with, and most teams have more or less filled in their lineups with young blood. The thing here is that rookie quarterbacks were a bit thin, yet Kaepernick never got a call – even as a backup.

Texans, Ravens verbally came close

The only team where the name of Colin Kaepernick was mentioned was the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens, NESN reports. Texans coach Bill O’Brien is weighing his options at quarterback, sensible alternatives after dealing away Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns.

For the Ravens, head coach John Harbaugh said that Kaepernick was too good not to get signed. While both coaches respect the abilities of the Milwaukee native, the fact remains that no one has even discussed anything to date.

Too much politics may have hurt Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick’s previous season was marred more about his off-field antics than what he could do in the field. Most saw how he staged the kneeling protests during games while others were concerned about his celebrated vegan diet. But would these account for a total shunning of a once-promising quarterback?

It is a riddle that most are trying to figure out. When Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers, most were under the impression he was looking to hook up a bigger contract. The 29-year-old was reportedly looking for a US$10 million (AU$73 million) contract and a starting role.

The figures allegedly went down to US$5 million (AU$37 million) but even the slash in asking salary has failed to draw in interested teams. If the trend continues, the best option for Kaepernick may be a bare minimum, something similar to what Blaine Gabbert got with the Arizona Cardinals, according to AZCardinals.com.

Colin Kaepernick may end up in waiting for quite some time until an NFL team finds the need to hire a quarterback. A consolation is that he is not the only quarterback in waiting. Jay Cutler and Robert Griffin III are still unemployed, so there could be a small flicker of hope for the man who once starred in helping the 49ers to the 1994 Super Bowl.