49ers Mailbag: What's Kaepernick's Future?

The 49ers on Friday traveled to South Florida for the beginning of an extended road trip.

After Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, the 49ers will spend the week training in Orlando before continuing on to Chicago for next week’s game.

The 49ers are 1-9, and are looking to snap a franchise-tying nine-game losing streak. Thanks to some of our friends on Facebook for submitting questions for this edition of 49ers Mailbag.

What is Kaepernick's future after the 2016 NFL season?‬ (Matthew Beadle)
There are so many moving parts that it’s impossible to predict where Colin Kaepernick will be next season.

First off, Kaepernick and the 49ers negotiated a contract restructure in which the deal he signed in 2014 that runs through the 2020 season no longer exists.

Kaepernick can opt out of the final year of his contract after this season. As always, the 49ers can release him if they feel he is not worth the $14.9 million he is scheduled to make next season.

The 49ers granted Kaepernick permission to seek a trade last offseason. The 49ers and Denver Broncos worked out a trade that was contingent on Kaepernick and the Broncos agreeing on a new contract. They could not get the deal done, so Kaepernick remained with the 49ers.

What is not known is what kind of market there will be for Kaepernick. His football is one consideration. As a player, there is a place for Kaepernick in the league -- as a starter or backup, for sure. But, now, organizations must also consider everything else that Kaepernick brings to an organization. Some organizations will not be interested.

Kaepernick would likely opt out of his contract early. In any case, the 49ers will have plenty of time before the draft to try to sign another veteran quarterback or work a trade. Also, we do not even know who will be in the position to make those decisions for the 49ers in the offseason.

Kaepernick left the door open for a possible return when asked about what there is to gain for the 49ers in the final six games of the season.

“There is that feeling out there that we’re not going to be in the playoffs,” Kaepernick said, “but we still have an opportunity to do some good things and build on for next year.”

His return might seem unlikely, but it will depend on what options he has on the open market and who is available for the 49ers at quarterback in the offseason.

Is Hyde a real future option at RB. In each of his first 3 seasons in the league he hasn't made it 16 games.‬ (David Hartless)
Of course, Carlos Hyde is an option for the future.

He is signed through the 2017 season. Hyde is 26 years old, and he is the best running back on the 49ers’ roster. But that does not mean the 49ers should not look to add more depth at the position.

Hyde has been OK, not great. In three seasons, his average is 3.9 yards. He has been banged up, which everyone thought might be an issue due to his running style.

Hyde will be eligible to sign a contract extension after this season. While the 49ers would not be expected to sign him to a top-dollar contract, it seems likely the organization will see if it’s possible to add a couple of years to his current deal.

When are the Niners going to let Marcus Rush play? (Nathan Lane)
Outside linebacker Marcus Rush recorded six sacks in the 49ers’ four exhibition games. He was among the team’s final cuts, and no team claimed him off waivers. So Rush has spent the entire season on the 49ers’ practice squad.

After those cuts, 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil predicted Rush would find his way onto a 53-man roster – with the 49ers or another team – before the end of the season.

That has not occurred, yet. Rush still is working in practice on the scout team.

“He does a great job in practice every day,” O’Neil said. “He usually mimics the team’s best defensive end or pass rusher and he gives our offensive guys a great look.”

The 49ers rank 28th in the league in sacks per pass play. Ahmad Brooks leads the team with 3.5 sacks. The 49ers’ other outside linebackers – Aaron Lynch, Eli Harold and Tank Carradine -- have combined for just two sacks.

Clearly, the 49ers believe Rush is not among the team’s top pass-rushers and his success in the exhibition season was, at least in part, a product of the competition he faced.

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