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Amid BLM Protests, Odds of Kaepernick Signing NFL Contract Listed at +500, Vikings Given Best Odds to Sign QB

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated Mar 9, 2021 · 4:28 PM PST

Colin Kaepernick after throwing a pass
Oddsmakers are offering +500 odds that an NFL team will sign Colin Kaepernick after the league holds an open workout for the free-agent quarterback on Saturday. Photo by Mike Morbeck (Flickr) [CC License].
  • The odds that Colin Kaepernick will open the 2020 regular season on the roster of an NFL team are a long +500. The Minnesota Vikings (+950) are the team favored to sign him
  • Could the Vikings take a serious look at Kaepernick? Is there a realistic chance that he’ll get a training camp shot with an NFL team?
  • Examination of the odds and analysis of potential outcomes are outlined in the story that follows

It’s been well over three years since Colin Kaepernick took a snap in an NFL game. Yet, even as nationwide protesting in the USA brings attention to the issue of police brutality against African-Americans, the odds are insisting that it’s unlikely Kaepernick will get another chance.

It was in 2016 when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kaepernick sought to bring attention to the plight of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement by taking a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner.

He was vilified by a portion of America for his protests. That group who attacked him included US President Donald Trump.

The killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer has proven to be the tipping point to set off widespread protesting. It’s also proving that Kaepernick was a man ahead of his time.

Still, that doesn’t appear to be an indication that the time for Kaepernick to get a second chance in the NFL has arrived. Odds are currently +500 that Kaepernick will be on the roster of an NFL team for Week 1 of the 2020 season. Bettors will get -900 favorite’s odds against this becoming a reality.

Odds Colin Kaepernick on Active Roster for Game 1 of 2020 NFL Regular Season

Outcome Odds
Yes +500
No -900

Odds taken June 2nd

Kaepernick’s most recent NFL appearance was on January 1, 2017.

Kaepernick Was on Point

Several prominent pro sports teams and organizations are posting memes on social media offering platitudes toward the same cause that Kaepernick was roasted about when he raised awareness of it not so long ago.

The NFL, which basically blackballed Kaepernick, is among them. So are the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. It was Columbus coach John Tortorella who said he’d bench any player who took a knee during the national anthem like Kaepernick did.

Kaepernick was told he hated America. He lost his ability to make a living in the NFL. All for standing up for a cause by taking a knee.

Even if he’s being viewed in a different light today, that doesn’t mean anyone should expect to see Kaepernick under center again in an NFL game. He’s three years older at 32. That’s three prime years where he didn’t get to play.

Stepping back into the world’s best football league wouldn’t be easy for anyone after such a long layoff.

Pick: No (-900)

Is Any NFL Team Willing to Sign Kaepernick?

There are teams were Kaepernick would be a good fit. At the same time, there have been teams in the past three seasons who would’ve been better served by signing Kaepernick but none pulled the trigger.

Why should now be any different?

Odds for Colin Kaepernick’s Team for Game 1 of 2020 NFL Regular Season

Team Odds
Minnesota Vikings +950
Baltimore Ravens +1800
Cincinnati Bengals +2000
Pittsburgh Steelers +2500
Chicago Bears +2500
Buffalo Bills +3000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3000
Carolina Panthers +3000
Houston Texans +3500
Las Vegas Raiders +3500
Indianapolis Colts +4000
Los Angeles Rams +4000
Arizona Cardinals +5500
New England Patriots +6000
Not on an Active Roster for Week 1 -900

The Minnesota Vikings could certainly use an experienced backup behind Kirk Cousins but considering the riots all started because of an incident in Minneapolis, such a signing would smack of a public relations move. Kaepernick is too principled a man to be part of any such stunt.

Last fall, when Kaepernick took part in an NFL-orchestrated open tryout, the Cincinnati Bengals (+350) and Pittsburgh Steelers (+400) were favored to sign him. At this juncture, the Steelers still make sense. Ben Roethlisberger is coming back from season-ending elbow surgery.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of that tryout is the odds of no team signing Kaepernick were the same then as they are now. Both betting lines listed that outcome at -900.

With COVID-19 impacting what teams can do to prepare for the season, adding a rusty QB seems unlikely.

Pick: Not on an Active Roster for Week 1 (-900)

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