Colin Kaepernick believes he is an elite quarterback and expects to be paid as such. The San Francisco 49ers may or may not agree with him. One thing apparently is sure, according to a report: Both sides will meet in the Bay area this week to hash it out.
The sides have previously been in contact and met at the NFL draft combine in February, but this upcoming session is an indication that the 49ers and Kaepernick are ready to dig in on a potential deal, according to the Sacramento Bee, which earlier reported the upcoming talks Tuesday morning.
Kaepernick, 26, is entering the final season of the four-year contract he received as a second-round pick in 2011. The 49ers can give Kaepernick the franchise tag next winter if a new deal isn’t agreed upon, but the intention of the team is to get a deal done.
Kaepernick is 21-8 as the 49ers’ starting quarterback and has led the team to a Super Bowl and two NFC title games.
“I’m letting my agents handle all of that, and I’m worried about being out here, trying to get better with my teammates and get ready for the season,” Kaepernick said last week. “I’m playing football regardless.”
San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York, general manager Trent Baalke and coach Jim Harbaugh have all publicly said this offseason that the team’s goal is to get a new contract for Kaepernick this year.
Talks have been quiet the past two months as Kaepernick has been part of an ongoing investigation in Miami for what police describe as a “suspicious incident.” Police have said Kaepernick is not a criminal suspect. Authorities hope to wrap up the investigation, which started April 3, in the coming weeks. Kaepernick has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Harbaugh has defended him publicly.
Kaepernick likely will look for a salary between $18 million and $20 million. He is set to make $1.073 million this season. The 49ers have $9.142 million in salary-cap room, which is enough to fit in a deal for the quarterback.
