Brock Purdy’s rise to prominence in the NFL has been nothing short of extraordinary. After stepping in as the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback as the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy has turned heads with his poise, accuracy, and leadership. Despite his quick rise to stardom his first two seasons, he has since seen a major turn in the support as well as his performance.
I still believe Purdy is a very good NFL quarterback in the same tier of elite game-managers like a Jared Goff, but to expect the 49ers to reset the QB Market as recent reports have stated is foolish thinking.
The 49ers’ Current Quarterback Situation
Purdy’s contract is currently one of the league’s most team-friendly deals. As a seventh-round pick, he’s operating under a rookie contract with minimal financial commitments. This has allowed the 49ers to build around him with a star-studded roster, including offensive weapons like Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle, alongside a dominant defense, but the clock is ticking, and their Super Bowl window may be closed.
The 49ers paid Jimmy Garropolo a 5-year $137 Million Contract in 2018 and decided they needed a major change after they believed Jimmy hindered their ceiling: Hence the decision to draft Trey Lance.
This feels like the part of the 49ers timeline that’s truly forgotten because they spent ELITE DRAFT CAPITAL on Lance and that move is now easily regarded as a bust.
Instead of this being on the forefront, they fell upon a Brock Purdy who helped steer them to an NFC Championship appearance as well as a Super Bowl loss last season. While this season may show the 49ers that they aren’t willing to reset the QB Market for a quarterback that’s relied on absurd efficiency, it does show that the NFL is full of QB-Needy teams who would pay for Purdy.
Why the 49ers May Be Reluctant to Offer a Massive Contract
At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Purdy will have completed the fourth year of his rookie contract and will be eligble for his extension.
- The Cost of a Franchise Quarterback: Signing Purdy to a lucrative, long-term deal is going to be a huge financial commitment. As Purdy continues to play well, he’ll be in line for a contract that reflects his value, potentially upwards of $50-60 million as Tom Pelissero has reported. However, this type of investment could limit the 49ers’ ability to retain key players across the roster, especially as they already have significant contracts tied up in players like defensive tackle Fred Warner and edge rusher Nick Bosa.
- The 49ers’ Historical Approach to Quarterbacks: San Francisco’s approach to the quarterback position has been somewhat unconventional in recent years. They’ve invested in quarterbacks like Jimmy Garoppolo, but they were positive that the game-managing QB style didn’t suit them hence the reason for drafting Lance. This philosophy could influence their willingness to hand out a massive contract to Purdy. In the past, the 49ers have been hesitant to make such a significant financial commitment, especially when they’ve had success without paying top-tier quarterback salaries due to the talent on the roster.
- Cap Flexibility and Roster Construction: The NFL salary cap is a constant challenge for every team, and the 49ers’ ability to retain a high-quality roster hinges on maintaining cap flexibility. The addition of a big contract for Purdy could affect their ability to sign other key players in the coming years. The 49ers might prioritize retaining key players on defense or bolstering their offensive line, which could lead them to reconsider paying Purdy at a top-tier quarterback level.
The question of whether Brock Purdy could request a trade is multifaceted. While it’s difficult to predict how the 49ers will handle his contract situation, the possibility that Purdy feels he could get a massive contract that the 9ers won’t pay him is a real possibility.
The only way this comes to fruition is if San Francisco also has a real contingency plan whether that’s a high draft pick, a QB on the trade market, or a free agent quarterback like a Sam Darnold.
