Colin Kaepernick could be on his way back to the NFL. And he could play for the team that defeated in the Super Bowl a few years ago.
Kaepernick has been a free agent since the end of the 2016 season. After spending the last season with the San Francisco 49ers, the maligned quarterback has not been able to find a new home. And while there has been a lot of talk regarding why he hasn’t signed yet, there is a chance he returns to the league. And he could be set to join the Baltimore Ravens sooner than later.
The Ravens had Joe Flacco as the starter. But the veteran signal-caller went down with injury, and he could be out for six weeks. This would put him out for the preseason and the first two games of the regular season. And while Ryan Mallett could be a decent backup, he hasn’t impressed the coaching staff. So they went out to test the market, and both Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III immediately emerged as options. RGIII is no longer in the running for the job. But ‘Kaep’ has a real shot to make the roster.
The real question here is – what can Kaepernick add to the Ravens? After all, Baltimore is not a Super Bowl contender. Heck, they can barely be a threat to make the AFC Wild Card Game. They are likely to battle the Cincinnati Bengals for the second place in the AFC North. But Kaepernick could give the offense something Flacco does not: mobility at the QB position.
Flacco has one of the most strong arms in the league, but he doesn’t stand out due to his mobility. Kaepernick would force opposing teams to change their game plan because he’s a versatile player who can create havoc both on the air and through the ground. Granted, he’s not the player that led the 49ers to the Super Bowl a few years ago. But he can still play at a competitive level. He threw for 2,241 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 12 starts. And the Ravens would be wise to sign him as quickly as they can.
He’s definitively an upgrade over Mallett and is the best quarterback available on the market. In fact, it’s hard to justify why almost 100 quarterbacks have a job, and Kaepernick doesn’t. Perhaps the league is blackmailing him? Perhaps teams are taking a toll to his political stance? Hard to say, but the situation is unfair.
Fortunately, the Ravens can put at end to Kaep’s nightmare while also helping themselves in their QB depth. It sounds like a match made in heaven, and it just makes too much sense not to happen.