[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Hoover

He was under contract for a 7th Season, but he opted out to become a free agent. SF was the best fit going for him and he walked away. Horrible decision.

He's a dumb ass.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...49ers-contract

In hindsight, it wasn't a great decision. But, it's not as clear cut as you present. Here's a quote from the article you posted:

"Looking ahead, if the Buffalo Bills ultimately decide to exercise the option in Tyrod Taylor's contract, Kaepernick could emerge as the most coveted quarterback available this offseason. He may not be a legitimate long-term answer, but he could be a solid short-term solution.

"The New York Jets, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams are just a handful of teams that could look to upgrade at the position before the 2017 season. "

It's tough to argue that any other player evaluated as a top talent at the most important position wouldn't get an offer. Even with his "regression" he was still in the middle of NFL QBs in 2016 in terms of performance.