Colin Kaepernick experienced arguably the worst season of his professional career in 2015. He struggled through the opening eight games of the year before the San Francisco 49ers opted to bench him in favor of former first-round bust Blaine Gabbert for the remainder of the season.
However, with a startling lack of talent at the game's most important position, Kaepernick finds himself in demand, with several avenues available for recapturing his form.
Remain with the 49ers
When Chip Kelly was made the 49ers' new head coach, it was widely assumed that Kaepernick would remain in San Francisco for at least the 2016 season because of the potential of their partnership. However, rumors began to swirl that Kaepernick no longer wanted to stay with the team - regardless of Kelly's presence - and put in a trade request.
While Kelly's offense has never been about having a world-class athlete at quarterback - just look at the QBs he's had in the NFL - there are few coaches who can put Kaepernick in a better position to succeed than Kelly if he opts to stay.
The problem is that the 49ers may have done irreparable damage to their relationship with Kaepernick by benching him, meaning a fresh start could be the best move for both parties. The 49ers aren't expected to compete anytime soon, with their roster in dire need of an influx of talent after several seasons of hemorrhaging top players. Kaepernick needs to be surrounded by great talent to succeed, as he's proven incapable of carrying a depleted roster.
Trade to Denver
One of the potential candidates to trade for Kaepernick is the Broncos, who currently have Mark Sanchez as their only viable quarterback option for 2016. If Kaepernick is to get back to playing the way he was in 2013, he'll need a talent pool similar to those 49ers.
Denver is coming off a Super Bowl title won on the back of an all-time great defense. The Broncos lost several key contributors during free agency, but there is little reason not to expect them to remain one of the best teams in the league next season, with Super Bowl MVP Von Miller leading the charge. Built around a stifling defense and a solid running game, Denver would be ideal for Kaepernick, who performs at his best when the burden of winning isn't entirely put on him.
However, Kaepernick would enter an organization with high expectations. Despite their free-agent losses, the Broncos will be looking to remain a Super Bowl contender, meaning Kaepernick will be tasked with regaining his form as quickly as possible.
Trade to Cleveland
The prospect of heading to the Browns might not be immediately appealing for Kaepernick, as it's known as the organization where passers go to die. But the presence of head coach Hue Jackson makes it a viable option.
Jackson is a QB guru and one of the premier offensive minds in the NFL. While many believe Kelly is Kaepernick's best chance at redemption, Jackson could be the man capable of helping him develop into a more polished pocket passer, as his skills in that area have progressed little over recent seasons. Kaepernick needs to become more consistent and adept at reading defenses and going through his progressions, and Jackson has proven he knows how to help passers develop those skills.
The problem with Cleveland is obvious. Kaepernick would be walking into a full-fledged rebuild after Cleveland's mass exodus during free agency. The offense lacks any standout talent, and unless Josh Gordon is reinstated, it's hard to imagine Kaepernick excelling with the current crop of pass-catchers.
Trade to the Jets
The Jets may offer the perfect balance between the positives of both Cleveland and Denver. Kaepernick would be part of a team that isn't far off the Broncos in terms of talent, but he would be under significantly less pressure - even with the bright lights of The Big Apple upon him.
One of Kaepernick's biggest weaknesses is his poor accuracy, but that could be offset by playing with two receivers with great size and catching radius in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. He'd also have the benefit of playing with a stacked defense that, like in Denver, would be capable of carrying the team.
Chan Gailey is an accomplished offensive coordinator, who could devise a scheme to get the best out of Kaepernick's talent. His best chance of winning might be with the Broncos, but his best chance at regaining his previous form may lay with the Jets.
