Latest On Colin Kaepernick
Talks between the Broncos and 49ers regarding quarterback Colin Kaepernick have gone dormant in recent weeks, but the door isn’t yet closed on Kaepernick ending up in Denver before next season. Even after reporting to the 49ers’ voluntary workouts earlier this month, Kaepernick still doesn’t want to continue his career with the club and the feeling is mutual from ownership, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports.
The acrimony between Kaepernick and 49ers brass is why the Broncos haven’t budged in trade talks, per La Canfora, who 
writes that Denver is holding out hope that the quarterback will reach an injury settlement with San Francisco and become a free agent. Kaepernick underwent left shoulder surgery in November and should be able to resume football activities in May.
Going forward, Kaepernick has five years left on his contract and is due a guaranteed $11.9MM in 2016. As of two weeks ago, the Broncos were reportedly hoping to push that $11.9MM number down to $7MM and have Kaepernick also take pay cuts in the other years of his deal. However, Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News reported then that Kaepernick’s camp was committed to either keeping the salaries intact or changing the contract to allow him to hit free agency next offseason, when his controlling team could cut him before his salary becomes guaranteed for 2017.
A resolution on the Kaepernick situation is possible before or during the upcoming draft, which is when La Canfora expects trade talks to intensify again. The 49ers hold the seventh pick and could potentially draft Kaepernick’s replacement – though both Cal’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz should be off the board by then – thus helping to usher No. 7 out of town. The Broncos are set to pick 31st and could put the notion of acquiring Kaepernick to bed by selecting a signal-caller with that choice. Otherwise, if Kaepernick isn’t a Bronco by the end of the first round, he’d look like a rather appealing option compared to Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian, Denver’s current top two QBs.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
49ers Meeting With Jared Goff
California quarterback Jared Goff is meeting with the 49ers tonight, sources tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, who adds (via Twitter) that this is the third time Chip Kelly & Co. will have seen Goff, with the first two instances coming at Goff’s pro day and via a private workout. Goff, of course, is one of two primary options for the Rams with the No. 1 overall pick, so San Francisco would need a bit of luck for him to fall to the seventh pick. Even if the 49ers are able to trade up to No. 2, there’s no guarantee Goff won’t already be off the board.
49ers Visit With TCU's Kolby Listenbee
- Kolby Listenbee will visit the Eagles on Monday after recently meeting with the 49ers, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The TCU wide receiver. The 6-foot-1 target who blazed to a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the Horned Frogs’ pro day amassed more than 1,300 receiving yards and nine TDs the past two seasons. Listenbee underwent sports hernia surgery, per Caplan (on Twitter), after the ailment kept him from participating in the Combine.
Cimini: If Jets Draft QB, Don't Expect Fitzpatrick To Return
- There are already rumblings that 49ers general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly aren’t getting along. However, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee isn’t buying these rumors, noting that the pair looked relatively “chummy” at a recent pro day.
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Latest On Colin Kaepernick
The blockbuster trade between the Rams and Titans that saw Los Angeles acquire the first pick in the draft, with which it will presumably select a quarterback, could have a notable ripple effect on the Broncos’ pursuit of Colin Kaepernick, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post. If the Rams take Cal signal-caller Jared Goff and the Browns, who hold the second choice, prefer Goff to North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, it might lead Cleveland to trade down with a team that wants Wentz. If that team isn’t San Francisco, which is scheduled to pick seventh, it could result in the 49ers closing the door on trading Kaepernick. Renck doesn’t expect the 49ers to deal him without a legitimate solution at quarterback in place, and their best non-Kaepernick option right now is the less-than-stellar Blaine Gabbert.
49ers Interested In Ryan Mathews?
- If the Eagles select running back Ezekiel Elliott and decide to make Ryan Mathews available, the Cowboys and 49ers would have interest in the veteran, per Pauline. As James Walker of ESPN.com tweets, Elliott feels like the Eagles have shown the most interest in him so far, so it’s possible he’ll end up in Philadelphia. Even in that scenario though, and even if the club was willing to trade Mathews, it’s not clear whether Howie Roseman would be enthusiastic about dealing with a divisional rival or with Chip Kelly‘s team.
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49ers Interested In Garrett Griffin
- Air Force tight end/long snapper Garrett Griffin is drawing interest from the Lions, Saints, Chargers, 49ers, Chiefs, and Broncos, as Aaron Wilson tweets.
49ers Work Out Darius Powe
- Cal wide receiver Darius Powe looked sharp in a recent workout for the 49ers, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets. Next up for Powe is a Saturday workout with the Cowboys.
49ers Expected To Meet With Amini Silatolu
Having already signed veteran guard Zane Beadles earlier this offseason, the 49ers are still on the hunt for more interior line depth, and they’re expected to meet with free agent guard Amini Silatolu, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Silatolu, 27, spent the past four seasons with the Panthers.
[RELATED: 49ers GM denies club is trying to trade Anthony Davis]
A second-round pick in 2012, Silatolu started 15 games during his rookie season and looked to be a mainstay along Carolina’s offensive line for years to come. But he’s been hampered by injuries ever since — torn ACLs ended both his 2013 and 2015 seasons, and he was similarly calf and knee injuries in 2014. Silatolu has largely been relegated to backup duty with the Panthers, having been usurped at guard by Trai Turner and Andrew Norwell.
San Francisco isn’t the first club to express interest in Silatolu this offseason, as he’s also met with the division rival Seahawks and Cardinals during the past month. In the Bay Area, Silatolu would likely compete with the aforementioned Beadles, Brandon Thomas, and Ian Silberman for playing time at left guard opposite Andrew Tiller.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Goff, Wentz Won't Visit 49ers This Week
- Contrary to a previous report, quarterback prospects Jared Goff and Carson Wentz won’t be visiting the 49ers this week, according to Cole (video link). That doesn’t mean the two top QB prospects won’t eventually make the trip to Santa Clara, but the 49ers have already worked them out individually and have gotten a closer look at them. Cole also hears that GM Trent Baalke really likes Michigan State signal-caller Connor Cook.