MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up during a game against the Miami Dolphins on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)We are now just two days away from Colin Kaepernick’s highly-publicized (and last minute) workout for NFL teams. Now, we have an idea of what the turnout will look like.
As the NFL wants us to remember, it’s only Thursday(!) and there is still time for other teams to commit. As of now, 11 franchises plan to be in Atlanta for the event.
The NFL also confirms that former Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson will lead Kaepernick through drills, and former Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin will… also be there, doing something.
The 11 teams that will be there, as of now:
-Arizona Cardinals
-Atlanta Falcons
-Cleveland Browns
-Denver Broncos
-Detroit Lions
-Miami Dolphins
-New England Patriots
-New York Giants
-New York Jets
-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-Washington Redskins
The NFL Communications department release:
— NFL345 (@NFL345) November 14, 2019
On today’s episode of First Take, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said that he had heard that at least two teams are interested in signing Colin Kaepernick. He did not identify them, but one would imagine they would be represented in that group. Other reports have indicated that this workout may have a bigger effect on Kaepernick’s chances to land with a team for the 2020 season.
Of the 11, there isn’t a particularly obvious fit.
Arizona, Atlanta, Cleveland, and New England are pretty locked in with their franchise quarterbacks. Only Matt Ryan has had injury issues from that group this year, but he was back this past weekend, when the Falcons shocked the New Orleans Saints.
The two New York teams and Washington are all playing out the string with their young quarterbacks, who still have plenty to prove, but will be given every opportunity.
Detroit and Denver had injured veteran starters, and probably make the most sense, especially if the Lions want to stay afloat. The Brian Hoyer experience was rough last weekend. The Broncos lost Joe Flacco to injury, and started Brandon Allen in their last game, but now have rookie Drew Lock back from injury, so they look to see what he has.
That leaves New England, which would only take Kaepernick to back up Tom Brady if they aren’t confident in rookie Jarrett Stidham or Cody Kessler as backups, as we near the postseason. Tampa Bay’s long-term view of Jameis Winston is hard to know, but with how Bruce Arians has defended him this year, it is hard to see them entertaining replacement options during the season.
[NFL]
