Jon Gruden 'Surprised' Colin Kaepernick Is Unsigned, 'A Lot of Intrigue There'

As Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned, one NFL coach believes that could change soon.

On Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings, Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden discussed the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback's controversial situation. 

"I think there's a lot of intrigue there," Gruden said, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. "His performance on the field wasn't very good, on tape. I think, Robert Griffin, a rookie of the year, surprised he's out there. Tim Tebow takes a team to the playoffs, there's some surprise that he never came back. You know, Johnny Manziel, he's out there.

"Back to Kaepernick, he got beat out by [Blaine] Gabbert, to start the [2016] season. I think that says something. (But) I am surprised he's not in camp with somebody. He probably will be soon."

Five years ago, Kaepernick led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance under Jim Harbaugh. He's had a tough go of things both on the field and off it since then. 

He last played in the NFL in 2016, completing just 59.2 percent of his passes for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. His 1-10 record that season can certainly, at least in part, be attributed to the roster around him. 

Whether it be due to his play, his shoulder, thumb and knee surgeries or his protest, Kaepernick found himself in a quarterback battle with Blaine Gabbert. Ultimately, he decided to opt out of his contract in San Francisco as rumors swirled the team was ready to move on from him.

Accuracy was always an issue for Kaepernick, but he proved he had the arm strength and mobility to overcome that weakness. He was an electrifying playmaker who had his team within one score of a Super Bowl championship.

Regardless of his talent, many believe it's his social activism that has kept him unemployed the past year. Players throughout the league similarly protested social injustices last season, with the NFL eventually meeting with players to discuss the matter. 

Derek Carr gives Oakland a legitimate star at quarterback. However, with E.J. Manuel and Connor Cook as backups, perhaps Gruden would give Kaepernick a look at some point.