Four weeks ago, the agents of quarterback Colin Kaepernick requested permission to seek a trade from the 49ers. Thus far, it appears the 49ers want to retain Kaepernick more than any other team wants to acquire him.
On Thursday, the Cleveland Browns appeared to move away from the possibility of adding Kaepernick via trade with the signing of former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin.
“We are excited about Robert joining the Cleveland Browns,” coach Hue Jackson said in a statement. “He brings starting experience to our team and organization. He's a young, athletic, talented passer and he's really just starting out in this league. Just like every player on our team, Robert will have to earn every opportunity he gets. He will compete with the rest of the quarterbacks on our roster and he helps improve our QB room, which was one of my goals upon taking the job. It's a special room and we want to put special people and players in that room.”
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Sashi Brown, the Browns’ executive vice president of football operations, said Monday at the NFL owners meetings that Cleveland was not actively involved in trade talks with the 49ers for Kaepernick. He said he did not anticipate engaging in any further talks with the 49ers about Kaepernick.
The Denver Broncos, who acquired quarterback Mark Sanchez recently in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional seventh-round draft pick, remain a possibility for the 49ers. However, the Broncos currently are not inclined to give the 49ers the draft-pick compensation they desire and the kind of contract that would suit Kaepernick.
When asked about Kaepernick's status with the club on Wednesday, Coach Chip Kelly promised CSNBayArea.com that the 49ers would retain the quarterback past the April 1 deadline when $11.9 million of his scheduled $14.3 million pay for 2016 becomes fully guaranteed.
“(It’s) not even in the conversation,” Kelly said. “I don’t think you cut talent.”
On Tuesday, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said the 49ers gave Kaepernick the opportunity to talk to other teams as a courtesy. Baalke said the 49ers were “nowhere near” trading Kaepernick.
Baalke was asked why the 49ers would give permission to Kaepernick’s agents to seek a trade if their intent all along was to have him compete for the starting job.
“Because I think sometimes it helps players work through anything they may have,” Baalke said. “It gives them a chance to see what their options really are. It also gives us a chance to say we didn’t hold you back from doing that.”
