Colin Kaepernick is the kind of rebel that fits the Raiders’ philosophy and organizational identity and would be a perfect signing on many levels
When you think about the glory days of the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, what is the first image or idea that comes to mind? For most, it is the idea of the Raiders as the rebels or renegades that were never afraid of going against the grain or pushing the status quo.
This started at the very top of the organization with the late Al Davis who was never scared of speaking his mind and doing things that other teams were just plain scared to do. Al Davis was the first NFL owner to hire a minority head coach in Tom Flores, hired, and elevated a woman in Amy Trask to eventually become the team’s CEO, and had no issues hiring Black head coaches which is something the NFL still struggles with.
Aside from not caring about someone’s identity when it came to high-profile jobs, Al would also always be on the lookout for the outcasts and castoffs from other NFL teams and help them revitalize their careers. Whether it was legal issues, personality conflicts with their previous coaches, or just a guy deemed past his prime, Al would always bet on talent and give them another chance.
Colin Kaepernick is a perfect fit for the Raiders on every level
The Raiders have always loved trailblazers and rebels
This is exactly the type of player the Colin Kaepernick is who has famously not played a down of NFL football since 2016 after he began kneeling to call attention to several social justice issues he held close to his heart. In his own way Kaepernick is one of the ultimate rebels in the NFL but his rebellion hasn’t come in the form of ripping off his pads mid-game and dancing in the end zone or going on benders after games, but rather it has come in the form of simply asking Americans to take a closer look at what is really happening in their country.
Kaepernick has made some missteps along the way and may have alienated some fans with his messaging but at the core of it, he is bringing attention to important causes and trying to help marginalized people. Al Davis would have loved this rebel streak in Kaepernick and I firmly believe he would have been the first owner to sign him after the 2016 season given his track record.
Al was always on the side of racial justice and famously would not agree to play games in cities where his Black players would be segregated from the rest of the team. Perhaps he may have issues with the form of Kaepernick’s protests but the message itself would likely have been well received by Al.
Mark Davis seems like he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps as a trailblazer as he has been outspoken about not signing players with histories of domestic violence and has spoken out about racial justice in the wake of the George Floyd murder and beyond. Mark has said that he has always believed in Kaepernick but would not force his coaches to sign him.
Knowing what we know about Jack Del Rio and Jon Gruden’s politics thanks to their public comments and private emails it is obvious why they would not sign Kaepernick during their tenure. They made it clear that they agreed with former President Donald Trump when he called the players kneeling “sons of bitches” and said they should not be in the NFL. The Raiders have a new regime in place and whatever their political leanings may be, they have agreed to at least work Kaepernick out which is a step in the right direction.
Colin Kaepernick is a perfect fit for the Raiders on every level
The Raiders could “buy low” on Kaepernick
Aside from the rebel aspect, the other reason for why the Raiders would have signed a player like Kaepernick in the past is because he is, not to sound crude, but a “depressed asset”. Just like buying low on a player that has just come off a major injury or drafting a talented player who slipped because of a medical concern, the Raiders have a chance to add a starting caliber QB to their depth chart for what is likely a very low price.
At the worst, Kaepernick has proven that he can be a starter in the NFL and we can say with confidence that he is a better QB that Nick Mullens and Jarret Stidham. Kaepernick could be brought in to compete and prove he is worth a roster spot and if he is at his best he could easily be the number two QB behind Derek Carr but perhaps at the cost of a third stringer because he has not played in several years.
Kaepernick also fits some of the concepts and style of play that head coach Josh McDaniels looks for in a QB. He has been most successful with the statuesque Tom Brady but when given a chance to use other QBs, he has preferred guys that can make plays with their legs as well as their arms. In Denver he drafted Tim Tebow, signed Cam Newton after Brady departed, and made the most Jimmy Garroppolo’s athleticism when he started during Brady’s suspension.
Kaepernick could also be used in that Marcus Mariota role where he is coming on in short yardage and goal-line situations and making defenses react to his presence on the field. This was successful for the Raiders when Mariota was healthy and gave their offense a whole different dimension.
So the potential signing of Kaepernick makes sense from a financial, football, and organizational perspective and seems like a no-brainer on all fronts. Kaepernick could be a great backup for Carr, provide starter level experience for a lower cost, and fits everything that the Al Davis Raiders have been since their inception.
The Raiders have always loved trailblazers and rebels and Kaepernick would be the perfect addition to a tradition that includes the likes of Ken Stabler, Ted Hendricks, Jack Tatum, and many more.
Not to mention, that KAEPERNICK 7 in Silver and Black would be among the highest selling jerseys in the NFL and that is a stone cold fact.