Colin Kaepernick received a long-awaited workout invitation from the Las Vegas Raiders yesterday. Kaepernick has been out of the league since 2016 and has not received a workout of this nature. The intriguing aspect of this workout is that teams will finally be able to see if he still has it. As it’s widely known across the league, Kaepernick was the one to “take a knee” during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice and many followed suit after him. However, he has yet to make his way back into the league which sparks interesting conversation.
What does the workout mean?
Typically, a player is brought in for a workout because the team wants to gauge where that player is physically and mentally. More often than not, it’s because a player was injured or is older and needs to prove to the team that they are capable of playing in the NFL. However, this situation is unique because the league has not seen Kaepernick in an NFL facility in over five years. He has done side workouts and even attended the University of Michigan spring game.
Now that he has his chance, what’s the likelihood of the Raiders signing him? The chances are much higher than they have been. The Raiders offensive coordinator, Mick Lombardi worked with Kaepernick in his San Francisco 49er days. There will be a ton of attention on this workout. Many players around the league and even coaches want to see Kaepernick back in the league. A lot of people around the league believe that Kaepernick was set out to be made an example of.
What does Kaepernick provide for the Raiders?
Since Kaepernick has not been on a sideline in years it’s hard to tell what he can still offer as a quarterback. When he initially took the job from Alex Smith years ago many believed he would be their franchise quarterback for many years. However, not only did the social injustice become a topic, but so did his ability to perform. His drop-off at the position was very noticeable as injuries had hampered his arm strength and confidence in the pocket.
Kaepernick was never seen as a true pocket passer as his game was always at its best with his feet. He created plays on his own and turned broken plays into sixty-yard touchdowns. If he has any of that speed left in the tank, then he could be a very valuable asset for the Raiders. Not only would he be one of the strongest backups in the league, but he fits the Raider system perfectly. Derek Carr has a similar style of play and they love to get their quarterbacks out in space.
Will anything come out of the workout?
It’s almost impossible to know, considering Kaepernick took a visit to the Seattle Seahawks back in 2017 and nothing came from it. However, adding a workout into a visit is much different. The intrigue is there and the talent used to be there. It will be very interesting to see if this workout will generate enough interest from the Raiders. The media circus on Kaepernick has died down over the past few years. It’s time to get Kaepernick back into the league and see what he has left. The Raiders just might be the first team to finally give him that chance.
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