Brock Purdy officially became eligible for a contract extension on Monday following the end of the 2024 regular season.
The possibility of him potentially becoming one of the highest-paid players in the NFL loomed over a season in which Purdy failed to match the heights of his spectacular 2023 campaign, with many viewing his upcoming contract as a potential albatross that could hinder the Niners’ hopes of competing for Super Bowls in the years to come.
Purdy demanding top of market money in the same region as Dak Prescott’s $60 million-a-year contract after something of a down year could make it a difficult negotiation for the 49ers following a 2024 offseason in which they were embroiled two long contract disputes with Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams.
However, speaking to reporters on the 49ers’ exit day following the end of a disappointing campaign, Purdy sent San Francisco and its front office a very encouraging message.
“Everybody’s different. Just with the timing of getting something done and whatnot. For me, I wanna obviously get it done. If that’s an opportunity to be able to get that done quick, that’d be great,” he said. “Just so we can get back for phase one, get after it with the receivers and our team and just continue to grow.
“We all gotta grow together. We gotta come close and learn and just be the best versions of ourselves as fast as we can. And phase one is my mind, of OTAs coming back, getting all the guys back and let’s roll. Let’s get after this offseason together.
“With that being said, everybody’s timing is a little different and stuff, but for me at the end of the day, I wanna win. I wanna win for this organization and everybody here.
” I’m not the kind of guy that wants to have any kind of drama associated with anything. I’m here for this organization, for my teammates in the locker room. And I wanna be very professional about it. We play professional football for our living. I want to keep the main thing the main thing and not get distracted by all the chaos that can go on within it. But I wanna just be clean about it and respectable and get something done and get back to work.
“We’ll see when we actually sit down and start negotiating and talking and stuff, but more than anything I want to be able to be here for my guys in the locker room.
“I want to be in San Francisco and play my football career here man. I love it here and I want to do whatever it takes to be here. We’ll see when we get there when we sit down and start talking and stuff. That’s first and foremost and we’ll go from there.
“I’m not really sure what it’s all gonna look like or entail but I know that I’m guy for this organization and I can do what it takes to help lead us where we want to go and I’m confident in that. So we’ll see.”
There may well be bumps in the road in the negotiation, but Purdy could not have been any clearer about his focus in the offseason. The 49ers have a history of protracted negotiations with their stars, but Purdy wants exactly the opposite, and is presenting them with an opportunity to learn from their mistakes with Aiyuk and Williams and find middle ground sooner rather than later.
It is imperative they take that chance, and if they can do so while getting Purdy at a price cheaper than many anticipate, that will be the best possible outcome for the Niners.
