The San Francisco 49ers could consider a Colin Kaepernick trade over the next year if the team has a bad 2015 season, as John Clayton at ESPN writes that the Niners are in heavy transition and with Jim Tomsula taking over, the team could look at rebuilding after losing a number of key players and this comes as Carlos Hyde is likely ready to step up as the starter ahead of Reggie Bush and rookie Mike Davis.
Last season Kaepernick took a step back compared to the previous year, as the quarterback had 15 turnovers and was not as consistent on offense for the 49ers. Kaepernick was a Jim Harbaugh draft pick and while the team is heavily invested in the quarterback, his contract allows the team to basically decide on things at the end of each year.
According to John Clayton at ESPN.com in his latest mailbag, Kaepernick could be a candidate to get traded if the Niners falter in 2015, as the team has already had four players retire and other players leave through other transactions. Clayton writes that with the team likely going through a transition in 2015, the team could consider trading Kaepernick, as he is 27 years old and makes nearly $20 million per season. Clayton posits that with such a tough defense, the Niners could get by with a cheaper quarterback and use that money and draft picks in a presumed deal to restock on offense, including at QB.
Clayton writes that with Harbaugh gone, the Niners are going through some big changes, including having four players retire, the latest being Anthony Davis. The team also traded longtime punter and Pro Bowl player Andy Lee and this comes after Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore signed elsewhere in free agency.
Carlos Hyde has the chance to step up this season as the starter, as CSN Bay Area reports he is the favorite to be atop the depth chart in training camp. The team likes what they have in Reggie Bush and Mike Davis as a rookie along with Kendall Hunter, but Hyde played well enough last season to merit a long look. Bush will get his carries and Davis is a very solid prospect and he will get the chance to contribute this summer in training camp.
Kaepernick and the Niners ranked near the bottom of the league in passing yards per game last season and if the team has another tough year, it could mean a change at quarterback. Last year Kaepernick came up in trade rumors and while no deal came close to happening, it could set the groundwork for the team to make a move in the future. Kaepernick has been very good for the Niners over the past few years, but the team could move in a new direction depending on how this season develops.
Last season Kaepernick played in all 16 games and he had 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, which were both steps back from his previous season. Kaepernick had 21 touchdowns and just eight picks the previous season and the year before that he had just three picks in 13 games. Kaepernick had 3369 yards to set a career high last season and he had 639 rushing yards, which also set a career high, but overall the 49ers offense was not efficient and now the team is hoping for a bounce back year from Kaepernick.
