Star quarterback Brock Purdy became the latest San Francisco 49ers player to receive a historic contract this offseason ... but it reportedly didn't come as smoothly as some thought.
Purdy, once the very last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, was entering the final year of his rookie contract, with the clear assumption that he would stay in the Bay Area after already leading San Francisco to multiple conference championship games and a Super Bowl appearance at 25 years old.
This week, Purdy and the 49ers agreed to terms on the largest contract in franchise history: five years, $265 million averaging $53 million per season.
While it is typical for contract extensions of this magnitude to be drawn out with multiple offers and counter-offers, Purdy staying with the 49ers was nearly a forgone conclusion from the start. Other teams around the league new that, too.
This understanding might have led to the negotiating process concluding fairly quick. However, the signing did not come without some shocking conversations that are now coming to light.
NFL insider Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell about the details of Purdy's signing timeline.
Purdy's camp reportedly asked for a deal worth an unfathomable $65 million annual salary, which would have been the richest contract in NFL history by a large margin.
Mind you, Purdy has just one Pro Bowl honor in his career, and is coming off a season with career-lows in completion percentage (65.9) and passer rating (96.1). The Niners finished last in the NFC West division with a 6-11 record in 2024.
“Yes, that was the initial asking price, 65 [million]," Schefter said. "But you know what? Everybody’s initial asking price should be high. That’s how it should be, and his was. I don’t know that he thought he was going to get that, but you might as well start high. Nothing abnormal or unusual about that at all."
Schefter continued about where this request stacks up among other absurdly-high contract talks ... but led on that nearly every major deal starts this way.
He alluded to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott whose contract still ranks as the wealthiest ever at $60 million a year.
Schefty believes that if Dak landed at 60, surely he came in seeking more.
"It's not unusual, that's where it started out. It's not where it starts, it's were it finishes, always, in a negotiation."
So, Purdy's deal may have landed at a figure $8 million less per year than his initial ask, but now this report could create speculation about how Purdy views himself among other elite QBs in the NFL if he's asking for a salary that surpasses his more-accomplished peers.
Another leverage piece could have been that he was signing to be the face of one of the NFL's most storied franchises, which warrants some major responsibility that he should be compensated for. That may have been in play with Prescott, too.
Purdy's results on the field, however, speak for themselves this early into his career and justify San Francisco's commitment to their future with him under center.
However much Purdy "settled" for, he's still coming out a winner. His rookie contract was worth a combined $2.6 million over three seasons. Now, the 49ers signal-caller will rake in $2.9 million a week over five years.
Based on average annual value, Purdy's contract is the currently the seventh-largest in the NFL. That ranks above the likes of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, and three-time Super Bowl champ Patrick Mahomes.
Purdy will now have at least 53 million reasons to be motivated for a bounce-back season in 2025 ... but judging by these reports, he may believe he deserves even more than that.
