San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is going to see a big pay day in the near future. The former 7th round pick enjoyed plenty of success during his first two seasons in the NFL, including a Super Bowl appearance and a 4th place finish in MVP voting in 2023. It looked as though the Iowa State product was headed for a big pay day, likely to receive a contract that would set the market and compete with some of the highest-paid pass throwers in the league.
But the 49ers have failed to live up to expectations in 2024. And while the blame for the shortcomings doesn’t fall directly on Purdy’s shoulders, there are now questions about his overall value going forward.
Struggles For Brock Purdy Could Affect Contract Negotiations
The 49ers struck gold when they drafted Purdy with the final selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was the quarterback of one of the best teams in the league during his first two years, enjoying plenty of success that was missing only a championship ring. He ranked near the top of the statistical lists alongside some of the best QBs in the game. His contract represented one of the league’s best bargains, as he was earning less than $1 million per season.
And while there were questions about how much of his success could be attributed to his teammates and coaching staff, it was becoming clear that Purdy had the talent to be a star in the league.
As we head into mid-December, Brock Purdy is playing like the worst NFC West quarterback.
Stafford, Kyler, and Geno are all playing better football than Brock Purdy.
And it’s not even up for debate.
— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) December 13, 2024
Concerns have begun to arise amid the 49ers’ struggles. They’ve dealt with a rash of injuries to some of their most important pieces this year, and Purdy has been forced to perform without many of his All-Pro and Pro Bowl weapons. His production is still solid overall, but there have been noticeable drop-offs. His completion percentage and QBR are the lowest they’ve been during his three seasons, and he has a 6-7 record as the starter (21-6 during his first 27).
He has enjoyed some impressive performances this season, having hit 300+ yards three times and throwing for 3 touchdowns and 0 picks on two separate occasions. But most of those games came earlier in the season, with a healthier roster. 3 times in the last 4 games, Purdy has thrown for fewer than 160 yards. His 45% completion percentage was the second-lowest in any game of his career.
49ers Have A High Payroll & An Aging Roster
It is well known that San Francisco has an increasingly high payroll, and that they’ll need to make sacrifices as they move forward with their stars on big contracts. But they might not have to pay Brock Purdy as much as they originally thought.
It looked as though the soon-to-be 25-year-old was headed for a deal that mirrored the ones signed in recent years. Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love, and Tua Tagovailoa all signed extensions worth between $53 million and $55 million, and Purdy had surely accomplished enough to be paid like those particular players. That may no longer be the case, thanks to his recent shortcomings.
NFL Contracts With Highest Annual Value
| Quarterback | Contract | Yearly Earnings |
| Dak Prescott | 4 Years / $240 million | $60 million |
| Trevor Lawrence | 5 Years / $275 million | $55 million |
| Joe Burrow | 5 Years / $275 million | $55 million |
| Jordan Love | 4 Years / $220 million | $55 million |
| Tua Tagovailoa | 4 Years / $212.4 million | $53.1 million |
The 49ers still have a cheap year of Purdy owed to them. The quarterback’s contract expires at the end of the 2025 season, so negotiations could even wait until spring of 2026. There is even the option of placing the franchise tag on him for his 5th season.
Contract Negotiations Should Take Place In Spring 2025
Purdy and his camp will surely want to get a deal done before the start of the next training camp. There will likely be ongoing negotiations, though. Purdy and his agent can’t certainly argue that he has accomplished more as a quarterback than Lawrence, Love, or Tagovailoa, and even has a solid argument for being better than Dak Prescott, the highest paid player in the NFL.
The 49ers should make Brock Purdy play out the final year of his rookie contract. And if he threatens to hold out, they should trade him.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) December 13, 2024
But the team will point to the “what have you done for me lately” model that rules the league. If the 49ers were to sign him to a market-setting, top dollar deal, it would give them less to spend on other important positions. Costs would be cut, productive players would be gone, and the team would look something like it does this year with all of the injuries.
And if Brock Purdy can’t perform at a high level without the star running back, left tackle, and wide receiver, then why pay him top dollar in the first place?
The final three games of the season will be of the utmost importance for the 49ers’ quarterback. San Francisco has the 5th toughest remaining schedule, with their biggest remaining contest being against the Detroit Lions in Week 17. If Purdy is able to perform at a high level and perhaps show that his most recent rough stretch is a fluke, it would benefit him greatly in his upcoming contract negotiations.
