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Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, as expected, will opt out of the final season of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers and become a free agent. Kaepernick's new agents told all 32 teams on Tuesday that he will be available when free agency begins March 9, sources told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Wednesday.
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The 29-year-old Kaepernick, who is now represented by Jeff Nalley and Sean Kiernan after leaving XAM Sports, can officially opt out as early as Thursday.
Kaepernick was due $16.9 million in salary and bonuses in 2017. His contract was originally supposed to keep him with the 49ers through 2020, but the team worked with Kaepernick to revamp it before he reclaimed the starting job in October.
The opt-out decision doesn't rule out a return to the 49ers in 2017 for Kaepernick, who met last week with new general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan at the team facility.
It was the first meeting between the 49ers' embattled quarterback, Shanahan and Lynch since the latter two joined the organization last month.
"I would characterize it as just a really positive discussion," Lynch said last week, adding that he and Shanahan committed to being completely honest with Kaepernick. "And I think as Kyle and I believe, the evaluation process is still very much fluid. We've only been on the job a couple of weeks, and I can tell you we both very much enjoyed being around Colin, and he seems like he's in a real good place."
Kaepernick drew a national spotlight last season for kneeling during the national anthem. He started the campaign as the 49ers' backup behind Blaine Gabbert before taking over as the starter on Oct. 16 against the Buffalo Bills.
With Kaepernick under center, the 49ers lost nine straight and 10 of 11 overall to finish the season with the second-worst record in the NFL at 2-14.
Kaepernick threw for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while fumbling a career-worst seven times. He also ran for 468 yards and two TDs.
