Few NFL analysts have been as high on 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick as Ron Jaworski, the former NFL quarterback who now works at ESPN. In 2013, Jaworski got a lot of attention when he said, “I truly believe Colin Kaepernick could be one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.”
It hasn’t worked out that way. Kaepernick was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league last year before he was benched for Blaine Gabbert, and he’s now the subject of trade talk. But Jaworski still thinks Kaepernick can succeed in the NFL -- if he can find the right team.
Jaworski said on an ESPN media call today that Kaepernick should help facilitate a trade to the Broncos because if he plays in Denver, he’ll be playing for the best defense in the NFL.
“Colin Kaepernick going to Denver would be the quickest possible path back to success because you can play to the defense, you don’t have to score 30 points a game,” Jaworski said. “I think it would be a good situation for him to get into, where he can rely on defense and not have to win games by himself.”
Of course, you don’t need “one of the greatest quarterbacks ever” to win with a great defense. If Jaworski thinks Kaepernick needs a great defense, then Jaworski is changing his tune significantly from what he was saying three years ago.
Kaepernick may never develop into a great quarterback. At this point, the Broncos, the 49ers or whatever team he plays for this year would just settle for him becoming a good quarterback. For all the hype about Kaepernick a few years ago, last year he didn’t look like one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. He looked like a guy who didn’t belong in the NFL.