The San Francisco 49ers either guaranteed long-term salary cap viability or ripped off Colin Kaepernick. Or both.
NFL.com reported Thursday that Kaepernick's eye-popping, six-year, $108 million contract is a mega-deal indeed - for the 49ers.
Media reports had circulated that $61 million of Kaepernick's contract was guaranteed. According to NFL.com, however, only slightly more than $13 million is actually guaranteed.
His base salary for each upcoming season is not guaranteed until April 1 before the upcoming season. Even more interesting is the fact that fro 2015-2020, the former Nevada Wolf Pack QB could lose up to $12 million if he fails to play in 80 percent of the team's snaps and makes either the Super Bowl or All-Pro team.
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As to why the language in the contract is worded negatively - as opposed to Kaepernick earning a bonus for playing in 80 percent of the snaps and reaching the Super Bowl or becoming an All-Pro - is unclear.
What is clear is that the contract is cap-friendly for the 49ers. Kaepernick ranks sixth among active quarterbacks in a three-year salary window with a cumulative salary of $44.17 million. He is behind the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan, the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers, the Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco, the Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo and the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler in average salary over the next three years.
And Kaepernick's sixth-place position is sure to drop when the Seattle Seahawks renegotiate with Russell Wilson and the Indianapolis Colts enter negotiations with Andrew Luck.
Of course, Kaepernick might've known that and wanted the 49ers to be able to sign nucleus players in wide receiver Michael Crabtree, tight end Vernon Davis, outside linebacker Aldon Smith, and offensive linemen Michael Iupati and Alex Boone.
The 49ers certainly were aware. Kaepernick's contract won't handcuff the 49ers into lacking cap space to sign their other marquee players, and perhaps that is what they sold to Kaepernick.
But if Kaepernick wasn't aware and is only finding out how small his contract really is via the media, his relationship with the 49ers could take a big hit.
Do you think the 49ers were fair with Colin Kaepernick during contract negotiations? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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