Las Vegas Raiders QBs: Who Is Colin Kaepernick Competing With To Make 2022 Roster?

Colin Kaepernick worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday, meeting with an NFL team for the first time in five years. The 34-year-old quarterback is trying to make a roster that already features a few signal callers under contract.

Kaepernick's workout with the Raiders went well and the door is open for him to potentially sign with the team, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. Still, Kaepernick is probably more likely than not to remain out of the NFL for the 2022 season.

In 2016, Kaepernick gained national attention for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality and police brutality.

There’s little chance for Kaepernick to win the starting quarterback job in Las Vegas. That spot almost certainly belongs to Derek Carr, who posted solid statistics in 2021 and inked a three-year, $121.5 million extension this offseason.

What about becoming the Raiders’ backup quarterback? In theory, Kaepernick could be a better choice than the rest of Las Vegas’ options.

Nick Mullens and Jarrett Stidham are under contract with the Raiders. Chase Garbers, the fourth quarterback on the depth chart, joined the team as an undrafted free agent.

Mullens is signed to a one-year contract that is worth up to $2.5 million and reportedly includes $1 million guaranteed. Stidham is owed $965,000 in the final year of his rookie contract.

Stidham doesn’t have much experience, attempting just 44 passes since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Raiders traded for Stidham earlier in the offseason, so the team likely wants to see what the 25-year-old can bring to the table.

Mullens has made 17 starts in the last four seasons. The 27-year-old has thrown for 4,861 yards 26 touchdown passes, 22 interceptions and an 87.3 passer rating in his NFL career. In his one start for the Cleveland Browns last year, Mullens completed 66.7% of his attempts for 147 yards in a loss against the Raiders.

Garbers probably won’t make the 2022 roster.

None of the Raiders’ quarterbacks have a resume that can match that of Kaepernick. Kaepernick nearly won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers and started in a pair of NFC Championship Games. Kaepernick has thrown for 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in addition to rushing for 13 more scores.

Kaepernick threw his last NFL pass six years ago. He posted a 1-10 record as a starter in the 2016 season, completing 59.2% of his passes. Kaepernick’s 90.7 passer rating ranked 17th in the league.

It’s hard to gauge Kaepernick's worth after his long absence. In his mid-30s, he likely won’t be nearly as effective using his legs, which is part of what made him a successful NFL starter.

Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi was the 49ers assistant coach in Kaepernick's last four seasons with San Francisco. Raiders owner Mark Davis said in April that he would welcome Kaepernick to the team with open arms if his staff wanted to add the quarterback to the roster.

There have been rumblings about Kaepernick making a return to the NFL in the past. For a half-decade, teams passed up the chance to sign Kaepernick when he was a better option than several quarterbacks who were signed to NFL rosters.

At his age and so far removed from NFL competition, it seems unlikely that Kaepernick will finally get his chance to play in the league again.