After the Las Vegas Raiders caused a stir last week by working out Colin Kaepernick, observers are watching for clues that the franchise will sign him. But nobody from the Raiders has divulged information regarding the workout, nor has Kaepernick and his team.
However, one person who does have have the latest intel on the workout is Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who reported on May 30 that though Kaepernick wasn’t overly impressive, he certainly showed enough skill to prove he can play in the NFL
“I’d say the door is being left open for a deal, but it probably won’t happen right now,” Breer wrote. “The workout itself went well. He didn’t blow everyone away or anything like that. But he showed he was in shape, and that his arm strength is still intact, even at 34 years old and after five seasons out of the league.”
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Breer Says Kaepernick Still Has a Chance
If Kaepernick does get signed by the Raiders, it’s unlikely to happen in the near future, Breer indicated. The decision to give him a workout seemingly came out of nowhere considering that the team just recently traded for quarterback Jarrett Stidham on May 13. That said, the Raiders’ current backup quarterbacks — Stidham (48 career pass attempts), Nick Mullens (5-12 record as a starter over four years) and rookie Chase Garber — don’t have much experience as starters.
The previous support of Raiders owner Mark Davis could work in Kaepernick’s favor, Breer wrote.
“The upshot for Vegas, as I see it, is twofold,” Breer wrote. “One, owner Mark Davis has long been an advocate for Kaepernick, and his cause, and so being the team to give him an opportunity lines up with where the boss is philosophically. Two, there just aren’t a zillion NFL-capable quarterbacks out there. So if you’re going to be a team that looks under every rock, as Josh McDaniels said the Raiders would be last week, this makes sense as one to turn over. For now, my sense is Kaepernick did well enough to keep himself in the discussion.”
Will Other Teams Start Showing Interest in Kaepernick?
Whether the Raiders meant to or not, they opened up the door for Kaepernick to return to the NFL by working him out. It’s the first time he’s even met with a team since 2017, when the Seattle Seahawks and Kaepernick failed to agree to terms. Now that the Raiders have opened the door, it’s possible that other teams could come through.
Las Vegas has a clear starter in Derek Carr, who is durable and rarely misses games. If Kaepernick were sign with the Raiders, it would be to play as Carr’s backup. Perhaps there are teams with less-stable quarterback situations that could take a look at him and give him a chance to start.
According to a May 27 story in The Sporting News, the Carolina Panthers, the Seahawks, the Atlanta Falcons and Kaepernick’s former team, the San Francisco 49ers, “would be the most sensible landing spots” for him.
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Insider Has New Intel on Colin Kaepernick: ‘He Didn’t Blow Everyone Away’