The Chicago Bears will leave no stone unturned in their search for a new quarterback this offseason. It would be a shock to everyone in the NFL if Jay Cutler returns in 2017, leaving the Bears in a desperate position to add one, or more, high-upside quarterbacks who are capable of taking the reigns at the most important position in the game.

One interesting option is San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick, who according to ESPN’s Chris Mortenson and Adam Schefter, will opt out of his contract and test free agency.

Kaepernick has had quite the rollercoaster ride of a career through his first six seasons in the NFL. He took the league by storm in 2012, capping off an impressive first year as a starter with a remarkable playoff victory over the Packers where he threw for 263 yards, ran for 181 more and totaled four touchdowns.

It’s been a steady downward spiral since then, peaking in 2016 with his controversial decision to kneel during the national anthem throughout the season.

In total, Kaepernick has started 58 games with a career record of 28-30. He’s thrown for 12,271 yards, 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions and has run for 2,300 yards and 13 scores. In 2016, he started 11 games, completing 59.2-percent of his passes for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. At times, he looked like he was regaining his early-career form.

At 29-years-old, Kaepernick is still in the prime of his career and could be a low-risk, high-reward option on the open market. It’s unlikely that he’ll get a top-dollar offer, although the NFL has several quarterback-starved teams that could drive up the asking price.

Kaepernick is a more appealing option than Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay’s backup who is expected to command between $13-$15 million per year. He wouldn’t be signed with the expectation of becoming the long-term answer, either. Kaepernick would fit the profile of a bridge quarterback who can keep Chicago in games while a rookie learns the NFL game for a year or two.

It would be a shock if Ryan Pace and John Fox don’t at least kick the tires on Kaepernick. If they’re convinced they can catch lightning in a bottle with his dual-threat ability, he could be a surprising starter under center in Chicago next season. It will come down to the almighty dollar, but if the price is right, there’s no reason to assume he won’t be a legitimate candidate for the Bears to pursue this winter.