Colin Kaepernick could play in the NFL again, but it is in no way bound to happen soon, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

A vague sense of optimism emerged in the aftermath of the Colin Kaepernick collusion settlement that Kaepernick could soon be signed by an NFL team. Nearly a week later, and with offseason roster limits at 90, there’s no tangible sense that the two-year cold shoulder could be thawing.

Kaepernick hasn't played a professionally organized game of football since January 2017, which was the last in his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers.

Prior to that time, he caught fire for his decision to kneel with teammate Eric Reid during the national anthem to protest racial equality and police brutality – and his football career has paid the price for it ever since.

Reid earned himself a three-year, $22 million extension to remain with the Carolina Panthers earlier this week. The Panthers are also on a meager list of franchises that could inquire about Kaepernick to team back up with his former safety.

Kaepernick, 31, still has all of the tools to play quarterback in the league, and he's assuredly a better player than most quarterbacks who currently hold roster spots. It has officially come down now to which owner will be the one to take the chance. Kaepernick has thrown for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns in his professional career.

Since the recent collusion settlement on Friday, it appeared that the tide could've been turning for Kaepernick to finally be picked up by an NFL roster again. His attorney Mark Geragos also further justified that on Saturday, predicting that teams would now begin to pursue him. However, with roster limits held at 90 for the offseason, it's still quite unlikely that he will sign anywhere soon.

Where he could land, though, is on a team that feels the desperate need for a quality backup quarterback before the beginning of next season.