After a very disappointing 2024 season, the San Francisco 49ers face a significant choice about the future of the quarterback role.
In the initial three years of his career, ex-seventh-round selection Brock Purdy has been a gaming advantage. He has performed at a Pro Bowl-level as a quarterback while earning $1 million or less annually, enabling the 49ers to enhance the roster in other areas.
While Purdy remains under team control for another season, he qualifies for an extension as he approaches 2025. Should the 49ers opt not to provide it to him, they will raise questions about his future with the team, resulting in an undesirable distraction.
If Purdy is set to receive an extension, there’s justification for discussing how much he has demonstrated his value. The statistics, particularly from the 2023 season, portray him as a top-five QB in the league, yet he’s been lucky to have excellent talent and play-calling available to him.
On Friday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano forecasted that Purdy would secure a four-year, $196 million extension, featuring $112 million guaranteed, positioning him as the 10th-highest-paid quarterback based on average annual value.
“The possibility of the franchise tag certainly provides the 49ers some advantage, and if Purdy isn’t set on playing tough and pushing for a contract in the upper-$50-million-per-year range, an agreement can be reached here,” Graziano stated.
A few individuals I spoke with anticipate that the framework will probably evolve from the contract Daniel Jones secured with the Giants two years back (four years, $160 million with $81 million guaranteed). “However, it would clearly be increased due to inflation and enhanced performance.”
When Purdy receives his extension, he will begin a new chapter in his early career. He won’t be surprising anyone by playing excellent football anymore—excellent football will become the sole expectation.
It will be interesting to observe how rapidly the saga develops, since the earlier the 49ers learn about Purdy’s situation, the sooner they can focus on constructing the remainder of their 2025 roster.