The San Francisco 49ers have paid players a lot of money over the last few years in pursuit of a Super Bowl title. That pursuit has eluded them despite two appearances in the big game, and it appears that the franchise may be looking to do things differently.
The team is slowly beginning to part with the core group of players that made the first Super Bowl run back in the 2019 season. Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders last week, a move that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
The 49ers have also parted ways with important players from some of their Super Bowl runs after failing to come to terms on new contracts.
These moves are saving San Francisco money against the salary cap, but it appears they're ready to be shrewd with some of their best players - even quarterback Brock Purdy.
The Athletic's Mike Silver says that the 49ers are planning to be as "ruthless" as they need to be when it comes to negotiating Purdy's extension.
“In past years, as [Kyle Shanahan] decided whether to dole out a massive signing bonus to Purdy, [49ers owner Jed] York might have been swayed by his coach’s and GM’s conviction," Silver said in a new article released on Friday.
"This time, I expect the owner and his chief negotiator, executive vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe, to be as ruthless as they deem appropriate.”
Many expect Purdy to receive a contract that could once again reset the quarterback market in the NFL. We've seen some of the best quarterbacks in the league receive similar deals - Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson - but Purdy may take a pay cut, relative to his peers.
San Francisco has difficult decisions to make when it comes to their core. Christian McCaffrey's injuries are a concern, while players like George Kittle and Trent Williams are now deep into their careers.
The 49ers have the pieces to contend now if the team is healthy and plays to its full potential, but it appears that the front office wants some financial flexibility in the future.
Signing Purdy to a massive deal may be consistent with conventional wisdom surrounding quarterbacks in the NFL these days. The 49ers seem to prefer building around a quarterback than putting the fate of the franchise squarely on their shoulders.
