Colin Kaepernick‘s Wednesday workout with the Raiders put the high-profile passer back squarely on the NFL radar. The audition has not produced a signing, and it does not look like an agreement will come to pass in the near future.
Although the Raiders viewed Kaepernick’s workout positively, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes no deal is imminent. Teams often circle back to workout players down the road, and a recent report indicated two other teams showed some level of interest in Kaepernick. For now, the Raiders are sticking with their Nick Mullens–Jarrett Stidham duo behind Derek Carr. The recently added backups may have OTAs and minicamp to prove themselves as viable QB2 options.
Although Las Vegas could potentially upgrade with Kaepernick as its backup to Carr, the former San Francisco starter has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season. The 34-year-old quarterback, by all accounts thus far, displayed quality arm strength and good fitness at his workout. That is impressive considering how long it has been since his controversial stay in free agency began. Rust should be understandable, given the circumstances.
The Raiders are not believed to be viewing Kaepernick as a player who would contribute in a Marcus Mariota fashion in specialty packages. They are looking for a Carr backup. Josh McDaniels did head the Patriots’ Cam Newton-led offense in 2020, but the veteran play-caller’s career has mostly featured pocket QBs.
McDaniels, of course, broke into the OC ranks with Tom Brady. After helping the 2008 Patriots to an 11-5 season with Matt Cassel starting 15 games, McDaniels parlayed that into a head-coaching opportunity in Denver, where he promptly swapped out Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton. Although McDaniels did greenlight a trade up for Tim Tebow in the 2010 first round, Tebow did not make any starts under McDaniels, who spent the 2011 season running a Rams offense that primarily featured Sam Bradford at the controls. The least mobile of the five QBs chosen in Round 1 last year, Mac Jones rounded out McDaniels’ Patriots run, replacing Newton.
Newton remains a free agent but has only been connected to the Panthers this offseason. The pickings at quarterback are otherwise slim, headlined by Josh Rosen, Blake Bortles and ex-Raider Mike Glennon. Ryan Fitzpatrick, 39, has not yet retired and has proven more than this group as a backup option, but he missed 16 games due to injury last season.
No kidding lol
I’m shocked….
Not surprising. Politics aside, the Raiders already feature two backups who have played recently, and play different styles than Kaepernick. They also have experience with either McDaniels or his O.C. Carrying four quarterbacks was probably not going to happen, especially with only one being mobile.
Kap Deserves to be playing in the NFL. It’s about time
If he wanted to play he’d be playing.
Al Hirschen Years ago, I would’ve agreed with you, but he hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2016 and is now 34 years old. Putting politics aside, there’s far better options for your backup QB spot. At this point, he’s been away for too long and is now too old to have any upside.
Why
Deserves?!? SMH…
Shut up about the sun!
Can this be the end, please. He’s had multiple workouts and nobody’s interested in giving him a deal. It’s time for him and everyone else to move on, especially since he can do so much more good as activist.
i agree he can do much more good as an activist but mostly because of how god awful his play was 6 years ago
Pete Carroll had an interest at one time so maybe Kap can get a workout with Seattle. The team was dead last in time of possession last season so they have nothing to lose by kicking the tires.
Kaep would slide in well to Seattle’s schemes which count on a mobile Russell Wilson. Better fit than the Raiders.
Trade Rumors turning into Kap Rumors – we are not a fan!
The alternative is Antonio Brown who is about the only player who can compete with Kap in comment feedback.
Free publicity is the best publicity
Because he sucks?
Kaep hadn’t been in the spotlight for awhile. He decided to pretend he wanted to play football again, after just comparing the NFL to slavery a few months ago, so he could make it seem like he was still not being given a chance. He got a tryout, they passed, and now he can go back to propping himself up as a victim. Mission accomplished.
The NFL better be careful – as he’s probably only working out with teams so he can get his name added to the Brian Flores lawsuit.
Really weird that you have a problem with both situations. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. I wonder why?
Great news….nobody gives a hoot about him or his alleged cause. If he was blackballed, so be it. What team owner would want to sign him with all of the backlash from fans, boycotts, and negative tarnish to what is left of the NFL image. He has a right to protest…..but, also the fans and people who pay the $$ have that right also.
“Kaepernick did something I don’t like so I cheer over and over when he stays unemployed because of it…bEcAuSe I hAtE cAnCeL cUlTuRe!!!”
The way they tiptoe around what they really want to say is an art-form. The mental gymnastics would be exhausting for someone with higher brain functionality lol
because cancel culture doesnt get facts they just cancel. Remember lebron calling for the cops head for protecting the one girl that was being charged by another brandishing a knife because he only heard the white cop shot a woman of color and nothing about the 2nd girl because he jumped in without the facts.
I am not a fan of Kaepernick on the way he has handled himself post kneel and even post contract opt out. He had opportunities that even the NFL setup for him but he basically spat on it last minute and changed locations and time. This caused more than half the scouts and team officials that were going to attend not be able to.
Based on what i saw of him his last season and such he was basically at best a backup qb at that time. I would say could have worked as backup job maybe for a higher price ala chase daniels, sam bradford, marc sanchez, etc with a chance to be starter again given a chance but he was not willing to accept that. Then all the lawsuits with the NFL put him in worse light that owners didnt want to take the risk for the reward that at his best he was a lower tier starter that would cause a lot of distractions with protesters similar to tebow and his ilk except instead of religious it was BLM.
Lebron is a moron. I know many Laker fans that can’t stand him.
i agree 100% since the way he did “decision” way back when i have not liked him. He was very talented and i like what he was doing but that just left a sour taste on the way he did it.
On a side note, i talked to someone that worked directly with him on a atleast weekly basis as he was in charge of one of his sponsor / license deals and from what they said he is super friendly and very generous in person. Gave them signed jerseys and photos for their kids. Some promo items he had there, This was about 10 maybe 15 years ago i spoke to that person as it was friend of friend. I want to hope he is the same but people can and do change. Some for the better and some for the worse. Maybe his media version acts very differently than he is behind closed doors who knows.
Glad Kapler is still protesting
Yet he continues to manage in the United States and collect the millions of dollars he wouldn’t get anywhere else. If you’re going to protest, do it in a way that can make a difference by writing your politicians going to Congress protesting outside the White House etc.,but not standing up for the national anthem of the country that is affording you to make millions of dollars managing a sports team is asinine in my opinion. Just another reason to hate the Giants.
He’s not really protesting. He’s just grinning from ear to ear while rubbing his hands vigorously. Just check his “Early life” and you will understand why.
And when they don’t sign him he’ll scream racism. He’s no longer an nfl qb. He’s been out of the league for 6 years.
Either that or he will sue the NFL.
Kaep’s one upside may be that he’s avoided injury and even wear-and-tear for 6 years.
Mullens and Stidham are both much better as is Rosen, Fitzmagic etc etc… Kap sucked 10 years ago why would he be good now at 34 smh what a joke
No chance Racist Kaep signs with the Raiders or any team this offseason. If I was Mark Davis’ hair, I’d tell Mark to not sign this racist but then again, if I was Mark Davis’ hair, I’d commit sudoku.
“Before they put you on the field, teams poke, prod and examine you. Searching for any defect that might affect your performance.”
======================
The dude is truly a dunce. An entitled dunce, but a dunce nonetheless. All of us commoners have background checks, and tests, to ensure proper performance. Too bad Kap thinks he is above all of that.