Carlos Hyde, NaVorro Bowman Surprised Colin Kaepernick Is Still a Free Agent

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned following a solid statistical season in 2016, and a pair of his former San Francisco 49ers teammates are surprised by the development.     

According to ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner, running back Carlos Hyde and linebacker NaVorro Bowman believe the 29-year-old signal-caller has shown enough to earn an opportunity.

"I am surprised," Hyde said. "I've seen some quarterbacks [who] got signed that Kap is way better than, in my opinion. But I'm not a GM. I'm not a head coach. So that's out of my league."

Bowman expressed his belief that Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem last season to protest racial oppression has contributed to his long stay on the free-agent market, but he thinks it is a matter of time before he lands somewhere:         

"

I think he's proven that he can play at this level. He's made a choice that's kind of had a little backlash from it, but I think he'll be fine. ... Someone will give him a job. He's not like a bad guy or anything. So I think that's what matters in the NFL, if you can play at this level and your character is great. So I wish him the best.

"

Kaepernick threw 16 touchdowns and four interceptions last season.          

The veteran started 11 games for the Niners in 2016, and although he went just 1-10, he posted a 90.7 quarterback rating to go along with 468 yards and two scores on the ground.

While the 2011 second-round pick out of Nevada made headlines last season because of his protests, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in March that Kaepernick plans to stand during the anthem in 2017 because he "no longer wants his method of protest to detract from the positive change he believes has been created."

Many consider Kaepernick the most accomplished signal-caller still available along with former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. He led the Niners to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012 under then-head coach Jim Harbaugh, and he has six games of playoff experience to his credit.          

With teams such as the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos still searching for definitive answers at quarterback, Kaepernick's value may soon outweigh any concerns from teams regarding his being a distraction.

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