The San Francisco 49ers are in a tough situation, partially of their own making. One report says quarterback Colin Kaepernick has request permission to seek a trade. Trent Baalke and Chip Kelly have both offered up positive comments, and expectations Kap will be around this coming season, but obviously not everybody is on the same page on this one.
It is entirely possible Kaepernick is on the 49ers roster when the 2016 season rolls around. I think it is doubtful, but nothing is set in stone at this point. However, if the team is amenable to a trade, we'll need to figure out potential partners. There are plenty of teams in need of a quarterback, and plenty of teams with salary cap space. However, Kap is coming off a poor 2015 season, and there will be some questions about his salary in any deal. It is possible a renegotiation could happen to make a deal happen, or a team could just take it on entirely.
However that part plays out, we can at least consider some potential destinations. These are places where he could legitimately get a chance to start. It is entirely possible he would be open to going somewhere as a backup to collect himself and get back on track. My guess is he wants to go somewhere he can compete to be the starter, but who knows for certain. For now, here's a short list. Feel free to offer your own thoughts.
Los Angeles Rams: Nick Foles and Case Keenum are not exactly a dynamic QB duo. The Rams are expected to have around $58 million in cap space.
Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel is not the future, and they do not have the QB of the future on their roster. Hue Jackson tried to move up to get Kaepernick in the 2011 NFL Draft, so he liked the QB at one point. The Browns are expected to have around $42 million in cap space.
Houston Texans: Brian Hoyer looked solid, and Tom Savage might have some upside, but there are still plenty of questions at the QB position. The Texans are expected to have around $32 million in cap space.
Denver Broncos: Peyton Manning seems on the way out, and Brock Osweiler remains a question mark. The Broncos have stated emphatically they want to keep Osweiler, but obviously we can't believe everything we hear. The Broncos are expected to have around $8 million in cap space, but that number would go up significantly if Peyton Manning retires or is released.
New York Jets: Ryan Fitzpatrick looked good for the Jets, while Geno Smith appears to not be an answer. Brandon Marshall said he hopes the Jets can figure something out with Fitzpatrick. The Jets are expected to have around $21 million in cap space.