Trade deliberations between the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos over quarterback Colin Kaepernick are in limbo over the Broncos’ unwillingness to pay Kaepernick all of his guaranteed salary for the 2016 season, but are not necessarily done for good, according to a person familiar with the situation.
“Obviously someone would have to budge from where they are now (on the salary issue) for it to happen,” the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the deliberations are at a sensitive stage.
It is not clear how likely it is that any of the parties will move toward a compromise to revive the trade.
Kaepernick’s 2016 salary of $11.9 million became guaranteed last week under the terms of his contract with the 49ers. They Broncos apparently want Kaepernick to agree to reduce his salary or the 49ers to pick up a portion of it as part of a trade. But neither Kaepernick nor his team has seemed willing so far to accommodate that Broncos’ request.
According to a report by ESPN, the Broncos are willing to pay Kaepernick $7 million of the $11.9 million. The network also reported that terms of a trade that would send Kapernick to Denver for a mid-round draft pick basically are in place if the salary issue can be worked out.
Kaepernick reportedly has met twice with Broncos general manager John Elway. The 49ers would have had to give their permission for those meetings to take place by granting Kaepernick and his representatives permission to seek a trade.
The former Super Bowl starter is coming off shoulder, thumb and knee surgeries. Blaine Gabbert took over as San Francisco’s starter last season and the 49ers have the seventh overall selection in the NFL draft, which potentially could be used on a quarterback of the future.
Kaepernick reported to the opening day of the 49ers’ voluntary offseason workout program Monday. He has a $400,000 bonus tied to attending 90 percent of the workouts. Monday marked the first day that Kaepernick, under NFL rules, could have in-depth football conversations with the team’s new coach, Chip Kelly.
The Broncos continue to seek help at quarterback after trading for Mark Sanchez. Coach Gary Kubiak said at last month’s annual league meeting in Boca Raton, Florida, that the Broncos were not done looking for a quarterback but Sanchez would be given a chance to vie for the starting job. The Super Bowl champions lost Peyton Manning to retirement and Brock Osweiler in free agency when he signed with the Houston Texans.
