Cleveland Browns: Kaepernick trade temporarily goes cold
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns are still working out the details of a proposed trade for Colin Kaepernick, but things have cooled for now.
The Cleveland Browns may still have interest in trading for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but things have reportedly cooled off for now.
Total standoff in Kaepernick situation. If CLE, DEN are waiting for Niners to cut him, it'll be a long wait. Trade only way out right now.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2016
The Browns and 49ers have reportedly agreed on compensation – the Browns are willing to give up their third-round selection (No. 65 overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft – but Cleveland wants Kaepernick to renegotiate his contract, which calls for him to make a guaranteed $11.9 million this fall if he is on an NFL roster as of April 1.
The Broncos have told the 49ers they believe Kaepernick is worth a fourth-round pick. They'd have to figure out a way to make that work.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 14, 2016
The 49ers claim they are fine with keeping Kaepernick and paying him his full salary, but they are also openly talking with the Browns and Denver Broncos – who reportedly only see Kaepernick as being worth a fourth-round pick – so that comes off as a bit of posturing. The New York Jets may also be interested, but have yet to make a formal offer.
As for Kaepernick, he reportedly is OK with going to Denver and working out a new deal but has cooled on giving the Browns much of a discount because they are a “bad team that is losing talent and that may also use its first-round pick, No. 2 overall, on a quarterback.”
Of course, the Browns could also say they are worried about paying $11.9 million to a quarterback that has seen his yards per attempt and quarterback rating drop in each of the past three seasons, is coming off three off-season surgeries, and was benched in 2015 for Blaine Gabbert.
Just saying.
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