Brock Purdy has been by far the biggest bargain in the NFL over the past three seasons. As the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers landed a great starting quarterback on the most team-friendly contract in the league.
Purdy has been off to a hot start to his NFL career, showcased by two NFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl appearance in his three NFL seasons.
Purdy now finds himself on the opposite end of the spectrum after signing a five-year, $265 million extension with the 49ers, solidifying his role as the franchise quarterback for the 49ers.
Longtime 49ers tight end George Kittle recently pointed out that Purdy has become much more of a vocal leader in the locker room over the offseason. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear this week that he doesn't expect his now-handsomely paid quarterback to change his personality or his approach to the game or the locker room.
"I want him to be the leader he's always been," Shanahan said Thursday. "There's no worse thing to do than ask people to do something extra just because of their contract. That's when you start making stuff up. Brock's earned his contract, and he's going to earn what he gets going forward."
Shanahan also noted that he and Purdy haven't spoken about the contract since the pact was finalized, and nothing has changed in their dynamic.
"And Brock, he's been the same since day one," Shanahan said. "You like to say that about a lot of people, and we're never lying up here or anything, but Brock is as much like that as, not just any football player I've met, but any person I've met."
While Shanahan may not notice any differences in Purdy, Kittle pointed out an example that highlights the quarterback's change in leadership.
"Well, today, he threw a route over the middle, and [WR Jauan Jennings] stopped running, and he yelled at him for not running anymore," Kittle said Thursday. "And so, 'Hey, JJ, keep running!' Just hearing that from him, he has an expectation and a standard for us, how we run routes, and his expectations of, in his drop, where we're going to be in the timing of everything."
Kittle further emphasized how Purdy's added assertiveness is helping the offense reach another level.
"Just him expressing his frustrations and not just, 'We'll get it next time,'" Kittle continued. "Him saying that, and then talking to Jauan about it for the next time, so the next time we go through that rep, hey, now we're all on the same page. And so, that type of vocal is awesome."
