Colin Kaepernick headed to free agency after this season

San Francisco 49ers v Miami Dolphins

From the sounds of it, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will void his contract next offseason and enter free agency.

It’s not exactly what the 49ers want to hear with Kaepernick playing better than usual as of late, but it makes sense for the quarterback to see what else is out there.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news and provided context, which suggests nobody should rule out a reunion:

It would not be a surprise if Kaepernick was the team’s starting quarterback in 2017, sources said. There is still a chance he re-signs with San Francisco this offseason, and it’s certainly not something to rule out like it once was.

Kaepernick will, in fact, void his contract before the league year and become a free agent, sources said. This creates a scenario where Kaepernick can test the market, sign a contract that gives him much greater peace of mind, and still end up back with the Niners.

The report notes that Kaepernick respects the 49ers for standing by him at all times while he protested social matter this year, something he might not receive elsewhere. On the field, he has slowly transformed into the ideal quarterback for Chip Kelly’s system after starting the year off hurt and losing too much weight.

For the 49ers, keeping Kaepernick may not be as easy as it seems. This news comes after a game in which he threw for three scores and ran for more than 100 yards. Either way, Kaepernick will get a longer deal he covets—it’s up to the 49ers to keep him in town.

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