NFL analyst Grant Cohn has done the math. He figures the San Francisco 49ers should play hardball with quarterback Brock Purdy.

Cohn projects Purdy to be worth $97.5 million over the next three seasons, based upon the franchise tag he could receive over the next two seasons if a deal is not reached.

The final year of Purdy’s rookie contract, 2025, is $5.3 million. If the 49ers tagged him in 2026 and 2027 he would make $92 million combined. Therefore, Cohn said to be generous, he would give another $200,000 to Purdy to get the deal done.

This is pure hypothetical and speculation, but it would not be unheard of for the 49ers to share in this thinking. It makes sense, only if they are convinced Purdy is not their quarterback for the long haul.

However, San Francisco seems to be putting all of their eggs in Purdy’s basket. He has proven he is an elite quarterback who is capable of doing exceptional things.

He does not deserve to be tagged and bagged. He deserves to paid like the winner he is.

And smart money – pun intended – he’s simply not going to sign a contract worth $32.5 million per year when that’s about $20 million below the going rate.

The 49ers need to offer him a contract that places him in the top echelon of quarterbacks. None of the quarterbacks that got paid last season made it to a Super Bowl. Purdy has taken the 49ers to the Super Bowl and almost won it.

He also took San Francisco to the NFC Championship game the year prior, as a rookie after leading the 49ers to a 5-0 record to finish the season.

The Buffalo Bills paid Josh Allen an annual average value of $55 million per season. Allen, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, has never gotten over the hump and gotten his team to the Super Bowl.

Provocative predictions aside … If John Lynch is listening, get the deal done already. Give Purdy his money and do the right thing.