Colin Kaepernick’s latest comments put public pressure on the Seahawks – Home

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Getty Colin Kaepernick seems to want a potential shot at the Seahawks’ starting quarterback job.

Colin Kaepernick has something to say about the Seattle Seahawks quarterback’s current situation.

As the 34-year-old looks to return to the NFL, he is putting some pressure on the Seahawks. According to the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback during an interview on the “I Am Athlete” podcast, Seattle doesn’t have a starting quarterback right now. Kaepernick, who references his training with the Seahawks in 2017, seems to imply that he is open to the opportunity to play for the Seahawks.

“No team brought me to practice,” Kaepernick said. “No team has brought me for an opportunity. I had a meeting with Seattle in 2017. And off of that, Pete Carroll was like, ‘Hey, he’s a starter; we have a starter. And things moved on from there. But right now they don’t have a headline,” he concluded.

The former NFL quarterback isn’t exactly wrong in his assessment. Seattle’s two best quarterbacks are Geno Smith and Drew Lock, who was acquired as part of the Russell Wilson trade.

Kaepernick hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2016. He recently threw to undrafted receivers during halftime of the Michigan spring football game for his former head coach in San Francisco, Jim Harbaugh.

The former Super Bowl XLVII starter emphasizes that while he is open to a backup role, he ultimately aspires to earn a starting job.

“I know I have to find my way back,” Kaepernick said. “So yeah, if I have to come in as a backup, that’s fine. But that’s not where I stay. And when I show that I am a starter, I want to be able to step on the field as such. I just need that chance to get through the door.”

Kaepernick turned heads when he finally emerged as the Niners’ starting quarterback during the 2012 season and quickly led them to the Super Bowl.

He would spend the next five seasons as San Francisco’s starting quarterback. However, he hasn’t played since 2016, when he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

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How Kaepernick compares to Seahawks quarterbacks

Despite not playing in a game in years, Kaepernick would immediately become the Seahawks’ most successful quarterback upon signing with the team.

As a returning player, Smith is currently considered by head coach Pete Carroll to be the Seahawks’ starting quarterback entering camp. The 31-year-old is entering his 10th season and started three games for Seattle last year, going 1-2 in the process.

While Smith is a decent backup given his experience (he’s started 34 career games), he’s not exactly an ideal starter for an NFL team. The veteran quarterback posted a 73.9 offensive rating last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

That’s a respectable number, as he would have ranked 19th among quarterbacks with at least 100 throwbacks. However, Smith only appeared in just four games. During his full seasons as a starter with the New York Jets in 2013 and 2014, Smith posted ratings of 60.7 and 57.1

Lock, meanwhile, spent most of the 2021 season as Teddy Bridgewater’s backup before starting the final games of the year due to an injury to Bridgewater.

Since being selected with a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, Lock hasn’t exactly established himself as a viable starter. The 25-year-old quarterback led the league in interceptions (15) in 2020 despite being limited to just 13 games.

According to PFF, Lock’s 63.5 offensive rating during his only full season as a starter (2020 season) ranked 33rd among all rated quarterbacks.

The only other quarterback on the Seahawks’ roster is Jacob Eason, who has five career pass attempts.

Seahawks still looking to add a fourth QB

Kaepernick recently threw to undrafted receivers during halftime of the Michigan spring football game for his former head coach in San Francisco, Jim Harbaugh. It was an exercise to show potential NFL teams that he can still play.

With Carroll mentioning that the Seahawks will add a fourth quarterback, that would mean Seattle is looking for one more sign in the locker room.

If the Seahawks select a quarterback in the 2022 NFL draft, that would likely close the door on a potential Kaepernick signing. But if Seattle ends up passing up a quarterback in the draft, that leaves the door open for Kaepernick.

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Colin Kaepernick’s latest comments put public pressure on the Seahawks – Home