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Alex Smith due $7.5 million bonus on April 1, what happens if Colin Kaepernick plays well?

Smith's concussion opens the door for Kaepernick to show just how good he is and could make Smith expendable if the 49ers considered releasing him to save money.

By Ronald Clark
Ezra Shaw

During a Q&A on the Sacramento Bee's 49ers blog, Matt Barrows was asked whether he thought the 49ers would be comfortable shopping current quarterback Alex Smith around this offseason if they feel good about Colin Kaepernick, who will start in Smith's place during the 49ers' Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Barrows pointed to April 1st as the date to watch. Smith is owed $7.5 million if he is still on the roster on that date. If he is released before then, the team saves that same number. Smith is playing some of the best football of his career and doesn't come at too high of a price compared to other starting quarterbacks on elite teams around the league.

Smith's recent concussion does open the door for Kaepernick to play his way into a quarterback controversy. But Barrows doesn't see that happening and feels that both Smith and Kaepernick will be back with the Niners next season.

Smith has thrown for 1,731 yards, 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions this season.