NFL Trade Rumors: Colin Kaepernick To Cleveland Browns For NFL Draft Pick
NFL trade rumors have a deal on the table to send Colin Kaepernick to the Cleveland Browns. Many NFL trade rumors have included Kaepernick recently, as the San Francisco 49ers seem intent to deal the struggling quarterback before the end of March. A report from CBS Sports confirms that this is the date his contract for the 2016 NFL season becomes guaranteed.
Colin Kaepernick is in the middle of a long-term contract with the San Francisco 49ers, but new head coach Chip Kelly seems intent to deal him before the 2016 NFL season. If he is on an NFL roster on April 1, his base salary for the 2016 season will become $11.9 million. That’s not too expensive in comparison to other NFL free agent contracts, but might not be what the Cleveland Browns want to pay.
The haggling in these NFL trade rumors might come down to which 2016 NFL Draft pick the Cleveland Browns are offering for Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly looking to acquire a second-round pick for Kaepernick, but that might be too expensive for the Browns. Another detail that might hold up a possible trade is a request by the Browns for Kaepernick to restructure his contract.
In the current NFL Draft order, the Cleveland Browns have 10 selections. It means the team could easily deal a pick or two before the draft occurs late this spring. When the league handed out compensatory picks this week, the Browns added a fourth-round selection (No. 138) and two fifth-round selections (No. 172, No. 173). In the updated NFL draft order, the Browns have the second overall selection along with the No. 32 and No. 65 picks.
Picking first in the second round could be a huge advantage for the Browns, especially if the franchise is looking to add a rookie quarterback to serve behind Colin Kaepernick for a season or two. It is that third-round pick that could be very exciting for fans of the San Francisco 49ers, as it carries a lot of value for a team with a lot of roster holes. The 49ers already have the fifth pick in that round (No. 68 overall), which could mean drafting two elite college players within 15 minutes.
If these current NFL trade rumors don’t lead to a deal getting completed between the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, there is still hope for Browns fans this offseason. The team has 10 selection in the 2016 NFL Draft that could infuse the franchise with a lot of young talent. It all comes down to the front office selecting players that can fit on the current roster and have the talent to make an impact on the NFL level. The franchise cannot afford to have any more draft busts as bad as Johnny Manziel turned out.
So what is the likelihood that a deal between the Browns and 49ers is reached soon? The 49ers are on a clock, but it isn’t one that is ticking very loudly yet. The 49ers just need to make a deal before April 1 to avoid paying Colin Kaepernick that guaranteed salary for the 2016 NFL season. The real question has become whether the team will pursue another starting quarterback before dealing him.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the 49ers head coach Chip Kelly have been linked to free agent quarterback Robert Griffin III. He could be the option that the team goes with in the 2016 NFL season, but it is only feasible if Kaepernick is no longer on the active roster. If the 49ers are willing to accept a very good third-round pick from the Browns and Kaepernick is willing to restructure his contract, then these NFL trade rumors could lead to a completed deal very soon.
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