Ravens and Seahawks Given Short Odds to Sign Colin Kaepernick After Goodell Encourages His Return
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell encouraged teams to sign long-shunned QB Colin Kaepernick
- The Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks are favored to be Kaep’s 2020 team
- Are they the best bets, or should you put your money elsewhere?
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is encouraging teams to give quarterback Colin Kaepernick a chance. The Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks have the shortest odds to deliver that opportunity.
The Ravens are listed as the +200 favorites to be Kaepernick’s next NFL team. Baltimore is closely followed by the Seahawks at a betting line of +250.
The odds that Kaepernick will start the 2020 season on an NFL roster continue to grow shorter since Goodell’s call to action. The odds lands a spot with a team are at +275 odds.
Odds on Next NFL Team for Colin Kaepernick
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | +200 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +250 |
| Houston Texans | +400 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +500 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +750 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +800 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +800 |
| Tennessee Titans | +1000 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +1250 |
Odds taken June 16th.
At the beginning of June, the odds of Kaepernick being with an NFL team to launch the 2020 season were at +500.
Ravens a Logical Fit
The COVID-19 outbreak means that teams aren’t able to gather for OTAs and mini camps. That’s making it hard for newcomers to master systems.
Now, imagine for a minute that you haven’t played in three years. That’s Kaepernick’s conundrum.
then why didn’t you hire Kaepernick when Flacco was playing like he was 100-years-old.
— Alex Thomas (@AlexThomas) June 12, 2020
It’s also why the Ravens are a logical landing spot. Baltimore offensive coordinator Greg Roman was Kaepernick’s OC in San Francisco. The Ravens scheme relies on a mobile QB.
Kaepernick isn’t reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, but he can run the football. He gained a career-high 639 yards with the 49ers in 2014. His career yards-per-carry average is 6.1.
Seahawks Have Been There, Done That
The Seahawks worked out Kaepernick in 2017 after he was let go by the Niners. It made sense. Kaepernick was familiar with the NFC West. His style of play was similar to Seattle’s Russell Wilson.
As in 2017, when he said Kaepernick is a fantastic player and a “starter in this league,” Pete Carroll (whose backup QB then was Austin Davis) once again shows what he says publicly and does in realty reveal he’s full of shit. https://t.co/eeNQu6HXOe
— Pat Thorman (@Pat_Thorman) June 11, 2020
At the time, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll opted not to sign Kaepernick. He felt Kaepernick was a starting QB and would eventually land a job with another team.
This time around, Carroll doesn’t see a fit for Kaepernick in Seattle. He insists he likes their current QB depth chart behind Wilson: Geno Smith and undrafted free agent Anthony Gordon.
Potential Value Bets
Are the Jacksonville Jaguars truly ready to go all-in on sophomore Gardner Minshew? Currently, ex-Chicago Bears starter Mike Glennon is their second-stringer. Jacksonville might offer Kaepernick his best chance of eventually starting.
Roger Goodell said he would “support” and “encourage” an NFL team signing Colin Kaepernick.
Currently, four teams have interest in Kaepernick: Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, and Washington Redskins. pic.twitter.com/YWo74v6wnW
— Sports Notes (@TheSportsNotes) June 16, 2020
The Tennessee Titans came within a win of going to the Super Bowl last season with reclamation project Ryan Tannehill under center. Could they see a similar project involving Kaepernick?
Don’t count out the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, either. Kaepernick would be an intriguing Plan B behind Patrick Mahomes.
A Catch-22 Situation
Inking Kaepernick to an NFL contract could develop into a real political timebomb for a team. Signing and cutting him could prove a PR nightmare. Signing and keeping him could lead to naysayers insisting it’s nothing but a marketing ploy to help the league save face.
Activist Athletes are a part of a rich tradition: Tommie Smith, John Carlos, Maya Moore, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Colin Kaepernick. All willingly paid a price for standing up for #socialjustice #gratitude pic.twitter.com/7OonAGJQ5D
— Stephanie Hawley (@shawley03) June 15, 2020
Muhammad Ali returned to win the heavyweight boxing crown after abdicating to protest the Vietnam War. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar enjoyed a Hall of Fame NBA career after boycotting the 1968 Olympics over racial injustice.
Kaepernick isn’t in their elite class as an athlete. It’s entirely possible he won’t get another NFL shot.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
