Kaepernick adviser says 3 teams have called about QB's services

Colin Kaepernick is one of the few quarterbacks remaining on the open market. The free agent appears to have drawn some interest, however.

Harry Edwards, an adviser to Kaepernick, said he has received calls from three teams since the start of free agency, Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY Sports reports.

"They've asked, 'Can he play? Does he want to play?'" Edwards said. "The last question I can't answer. The first question, absolutely. If Kap makes up his mind, he wouldn't only go in and make a team, he'd put pressure on somebody to start."

Kaepernick's unemployment has been a hot topic throughout the offseason. He opted out of the final year of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers to become a free agent. However, in his final season of game action with the team, he recorded just one win and drew both criticism and praise for first sitting and then kneeling during the playing of the national anthem.

It's been suggested both his declining skills and political activism have played a role in his current status as a free agent.

"I don't think there's any question that there are some owners who wouldn't have him in the league, much less on their team," said Edwards, a civil rights activist. "But I fully expect one (team to sign him), because it's in the best interest of the league to have him on a team.

"You can't have a league that's approaching 80 percent black, and then say if you stand up and say anything relevant to these issues - especially in the age of (President) Trump - this is what happens to you. You can't do that. You can't just up and write off black protests as if this were 1950."

A number of other quarterbacks have managed to sign with new teams, including Mike Glennon, Brian Hoyer, Josh McCown, Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, and Blaine Gabbert, whom Kaepernick succeeded for the starting role with the 49ers last season. Veterans Tony Romo and Jay Cutler opted instead for retirement.