Colin Kaepernick may or may not have a decision to make. The Denver Broncos are reportedly interested in the talented young quarterback, but only if the San Francisco 49ers pay $4.9 million of his $11.9 million salary. Since the Niners reportedly won’t budge, that could leave Kaepernick with a choice between a $7 million salary in Denver or an $11.9 million salary in San Francisco.
Let’s break it down.
The case for staying in San Francisco
That’s where you’re guaranteed to make the most money right now, with an $11.9 million salary guaranteed. Nobody has a long shelf life in this league, so taking a $4.9 million pay cut to join a team that appears as though it is loading up on quarterbacks seems silly, even if Denver gives you a better chance to win.
Throw in that quarterbacks seem to excel under Chip Kelly, and there’s actually a strong chance you’ll put up better numbers on a mediocre team in 2016, which would only increase your value entering the 2017 offseason. This might not only be a good business decision, but it might be the right football decision.
The case for joining the Broncos
A Super Bowl victory is worth a lot from a financial perspective and could make up for that $4.9 million pay cut, especially if you’re able to excel with so much defensive support in Denver.
In conclusion
Honestly, that’s all I’ve got for the Broncos. Frankly, even if the 49ers agreed to pay $4.9 million and Kaepernick could make the same salary in either spot, I think it would be a tough call. Kelly has somewhat of a magical touch, Kaepernick has established himself in the Bay Area and the quarterback depth chart will likely be less crowded in San Francisco.
But with the pay cut a factor, this is a no-brainer. A player would never pick a team offering 41 percent less money than another team on the free-agent market, so Kaepernick shouldn’t be expected to do that here.
