The San Francisco 49ers could sign Colin Kaepernick to a new deal this offseason, but there may be a reluctance to do so after the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens won quarterbacks that were cheaper and not widely considered among the top-5 at the position.

"I wonder if the landscape for quarterbacks in the NFL has forever changed with what Russell Wilson just did and what happened with Flacco," the agent for one of the NFL's more accomplished quarterbacks said. "Are you better off having young, inexpensive quarterbacks and trying to win with these guys?" 

Six of the 10 highest-seeded teams in the playoffs had quarterbacks on relatively affordable rookie deals, and a seventh was Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs on a deal less than $10 million per season.

"Kaepernick was a little inconsistent in the first half of the season," one of the agents said. "I've always believed you're not a starting QB until you have a full offseason and everyone can game plan against you. He was that, and he struggled for a bit. Some of his guys were hurt. But he worked through it. He is sitting in a great spot." 

Sources say Kaepernick could count on earning at least $20 million over the next two seasons with $1 million in 2014 and the projected $19 million franchise tag in 2015. The 49ers could entice Kaepernick to accept a $15 million per season front-loaded deal to give him financial security, as well as an opportunity to become a free agent before the age of 30.

"If you get to the $15 million range, you know you are taking care of him and you can make a big deal in the press saying Kaepernick could have held out for more, but, like Tom Brady, he wants to help his team," one of the agents said. "Instead of $20 million over the next two years, he gets $35 million guaranteed. Call it four years and $50 million, with $38 million in the next 12 months if they can eat up that kind of cap space early."

A contract negotiator and former general manager both said they have heard that the 49ers aren't necessarily all-in on Kaepernick, at least not at an excessive contract.