Colin Kaepernick To Seahawks “Likely To Happen?”

The Seahawks became the first team to meet with Colin Kaepernick this offseason about a potential roster spot, and the latest coming out of the league is pointing the former 49ers starter to the Pacific Northwest.

Many around the NFL expect this union to commence, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reporting (video link) the perception among the several sources he’s spoken with believe the Kaepernick-to-Seattle proposition is “likely to happen.”

The polarizing 29-year-old quarterback met with the Seahawks on Wednesday, doing so after Pete Carroll confirmed the team had interest in upgrading its backup quarterback post. Furthermore, Fowler hears the Seahawks may be the only true suitor for Kaepernick, with other teams not believed to be in the market for a backup quarterback.

Multiple teams ruled out Kaepernick, with the Cowboys and Buccaneers going with the likes of Kellen Moore and Ryan Fitzpatrick as their respective No. 2 signal-callers.

Fowler also reports that salary might be an issue here. A source involved in the quarterback market this offseason told Fowler he believed the Seahawks were only looking to pay the veteran minimum for a backup. Kaepernick profiling as an accomplished quarterback, albeit one who hasn’t been as consistent as he was when the Seahawks-49ers rivalry was at its apex during the early 2010s, leads Fowler to believe the Seahawks could give him a bit more money to spruce up the offer. But the team is not believed to be ready to make Russell Wilson‘s understudy one of the higher-paid backups in the league.

Excluding special-circumstances cases like the Bears’ situation and Brock Osweiler‘s Browns contract, the backup quarterback market tops out at Nick Foles‘ $5.5MM-AAV deal. Matt Schaub re-signed with the Falcons for $4.5MM per year, and Chad Henne makes $3.5MM annually with the Jaguars. Kaepernick obviously has a higher present pedigree than those passers, but with the Seahawks not believed to be negotiating against anyone, that doesn’t do much for the former second-round pick’s leverage.

The Seahawks would represent a logical fit due to Wilson and Kaepernick’s rushing skills and the team’s lack of quality behind its starter. Only Trevone Boykin and Jake Heaps, both ex-UDFAs, sit behind Wilson on the Seahawks’ depth chart. And Boykin was arrested twice earlier this year. The team also worked out Austin Davis this week.

Seattle has $9.49MM in cap space.

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