Brock Purdy is quickly approaching a major milestone in his NFL career—a big contract extension—and while his performance has had its ups and downs this season, he remains one of the league’s most promising quarterbacks. However, some experts believe that fans should not expect Purdy to offer a significant discount when it comes to negotiations with the San Francisco 49ers.

Although Purdy has seen some regression in his performance this year, he has consistently demonstrated his potential as a top-tier quarterback in the NFL. If the 49ers do enter contract discussions with him this offseason, there may be some discrepancies between the expectations of the team and the expectations of the quarterback and his agents.

One of the prominent voices in the 49ers media landscape, KNBR host Larry Krueger, believes fans should temper their hopes of a massive discount. Krueger acknowledges that Purdy might settle for less than the high salaries commanded by other big-name quarterbacks, but he doesn’t expect Purdy to accept an overly generous discount.

“I haven’t talked to the agent, but I know people who have, and he’s not going to take a three-year, $40 million per year deal, all of it guaranteed, totaling $120 million,” Krueger stated. “They’re not going to offer him an AAV (average annual value) of $40 million when guys like Dak Prescott are earning $60 million per year. I think there’s a chance that Purdy could give the 49ers some flexibility with his deal, enabling the team to build a roster around him that can contend for championships, but you’re crazy if you think he’s going to settle for $45 million.”

Essentially, while fans might be hoping for a deal in the range of $50-$60 million annually, Krueger suggests that this is more of an optimistic hope rather than a starting point in negotiations. Regardless, these figures represent the going rate for top quarterbacks in the NFL—an amount that is typically required to keep elite talent on the roster for the long haul.

ESPN Analyst’s Take on Purdy’s Future Contract

Purdy’s upcoming contract extension has been a hot topic ever since the 49ers made their deep playoff run during the 2024 season. Despite still having two years remaining on his rookie contract, an extension is inevitable, and the team will likely need to address it in 2025.

For ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell, the benchmark contract for Purdy remains that of Dak Prescott’s, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who signed a $60 million-per-season deal. Barnwell believes that Purdy’s agents will aim to negotiate a deal that exceeds Prescott’s contract, but that depends largely on how Purdy performs this season.

“If the 49ers decide to pay the going rate for a franchise quarterback next year, they’ll be topping Dak Prescott’s deal, which is worth over $60 million per season,” Barnwell wrote on December 12. “I suggested over the summer that a potential Purdy deal could be five years and $235 million, or $65 million per year. That’s still the target number that Purdy and his agents are likely aiming for.”

At $65 million per season, Purdy would become the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. While Prescott earns over $60 million annually, no other quarterback has yet reached that figure, making Purdy’s potential deal a record-setting one in the league’s salary landscape.

Purdy’s Mixed Performance in Recent Loss to Dolphins

While Brock Purdy continues to showcase his skills as a quarterback, his performance has been a bit of a mixed bag in recent games. In the 49ers’ Week 16 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Purdy had moments of brilliance but also made critical mistakes that cost his team.

On the positive side, Purdy threw two touchdown passes, keeping the game close, and racked up 313 passing yards. His performance in the air was critical, especially as the 49ers’ running game was almost non-existent, with just 81 rushing yards on the day.

However, Purdy’s most crucial mistake came late in the game when the 49ers were down by five points with just over two minutes remaining. On a pivotal drive, Purdy threw an ill-timed interception to Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou, effectively sealing the 49ers’ fate. Miami would go on to score another touchdown after a 50-yard rush by running back Devon Achane, putting the game out of reach at 29-17.

The interception was a disappointing conclusion to what had been a valiant effort by Purdy. Despite the late-game blunder, his overall performance still showed promise. However, it also highlighted a lingering issue with his decision-making in high-pressure situations—an area that he will need to address if he hopes to live up to the expectations of his upcoming contract negotiations. As Purdy continues to develop, his performance in these critical moments will play a significant role in shaping his future as the face of the 49ers franchise.

For now, the 49ers will need to evaluate both the highs and lows of Purdy’s play this season to determine just how much they are willing to invest in securing his services long-term. The ball is in Purdy’s court—literally and figuratively—and his next moves will be closely watched as he navigates the path to a major contract extension.