The San Francisco 49ers are busy searching for their next head coach while question marks linger over who their starting quarterback will be in 2016. As Colin Kaepernick deals with injuries to his shoulder, thumb and knee, Blaine Gabbert is signed through next season. Neither player appears to be inspiring much confidence in the fan base heading into 2016 which could bring about change in free agency and the NFL Draft.
The trade of Colin Kaepernick seemed like a foregone conclusion midway through the season for the 49ers. However, there is a chance that the quarterback survives the rebuilding process. According to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, the 49ers are not totally set on letting go of Kaepernick just yet. If on the roster come April 1, his roster for 2016 becomes fully guaranteed. Team CEO Jed York denied that the team is focused on the date right now as they need the quarterback to get healthy before making calls on his future.
"Right now, I want to make sure that Colin gets back healthy," York said, via ESPN.com. "We have a few guys that have been hurt. I want to make sure that he continues to improve. It was great seeing him and seeing a lot of other guys yesterday. The roster will be left up to the head coach and the general manager."
While Kaepernick remains in limbo with the 49ers, so does Gabbert. The backup question stepped in and started eight games for the team, looking both good and bad at times. Gabbert earned the respect of his teammates as many viewed him as the future of the franchise. The quarterback certainly hopes that is the case as he fully intends to compete for the spot regardless of who else is on the roster.
"I'm going to compete," Gabbert said, via SFGate.com. "That's in my blood. That's who I am as a person. I'm going to be the starting quarterback ... and that's the way I'm approaching the offseason. ... I'm going to take this team and run with it."
According to SFGate.com, a quarterback in the first round of the draft is not out of the question for the 49ers. Scott Ostler reports that with the No.7 pick, a quarterback is a likely target with Kaepernick's $13.7 million salary unwanted for next year. The issue is what the talent level will be in the NFL Draft. Right now, there are two teams projected in the two four that could take quarterbacks in the first round. ESPN's Todd McShay believes Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch could be the first two players gone at the position. That would leave the 49ers to eye players like Connor Cook, Christian Hackenberg and Carson Wentz.
Having Gabbert back in 2016 gives the 49ers some flexibility. They have an option to start at the position Week 1 of next year while they could develop a rookie taken in the NFL Draft. Whoever takes over at head coach will have plenty of decisions to make in the near future.
