Eyebrows were raised when it was learned back in December that at least one unnamed NFL team executive was having second thoughts about the San Francisco 49ers handing quarterback Brock Purdy a lucrative contract extension this offseason.
For an article produced by Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated that was published on Wednesday, a "high-ranking NFC personnel man" offered similar advice to the 49ers for how they should handle their QB1, who currently is in the final year of his inexpensive rookie deal.
"I’d play it out as long as possible without paying him if I was San Francisco," that individual said about Purdy's future. "...I think paying him [$50M+ per season] is very risky."
As others previously pointed out, the high-ranking NFC personnel man mentioned that the 49ers can retain Purdy's rights through at least 2026 via the franchise tag. Of course, Purdy could respond to not receiving an extension this spring by skipping the voluntary portion of the offseason program and by making things awkward for the club behind the scenes.
Even though Purdy is a one-time regular-season Most Valuable Player Award finalist who was one play away from becoming a Super Bowl champion back in February 2024, some still view him as a "game manager" rather than a game-changing starter at the sport's most important position. One NFC offensive assistant coach told Verderame he feels Purdy is "in that group of guys that do need good players around him but can play at a high level."
Meanwhile, a longtime defensive coordinator indicated he doesn't view Purdy as an elite quarterback.
"Better athlete than you would think," the coordinator said about Purdy. "As long as he gets the ball out on time, he’s good. Once it’s not clean, he becomes average."
Purdy is unlucky in that he's eligible for a contract extension following the 49ers' injury-plagued season that they finished at 6-11. Per Pro Football Reference, he ended the 2024 campaign ranked seventh among qualified players with a 67.9 adjusted QBR and 13th with a 96.1 passer rating. Over 15 games, he tossed 20 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.
Verderame found that noteworthy individuals asked about Purdy think "he’s a good player but he doesn’t have the ceiling of a great one" and is "nice to have" at a certain price. Nevertheless, 49ers general manager John Lynch, head coach Kyle Shanahan and team CEO Jed York all suggested earlier this spring that they want to lock Purdy down via an extension coming off the club's salary-cap-clearing activities of the offseason.
It remains to be seen if Purdy's camp will give the 49ers any type of discount before the 2025 draft gets underway on the night of April 24.
