The 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy recently agreed to an extension that moves the former seventh-rounder near the top of the quarterback market in terms of average annual value ($53MM) but still outside the top five earners at his position. Cowboys passer Dak Prescott still leads the way with a $60MM AAV, and when negotiations between San Francisco and its own signal-caller commenced, Purdy tried to shatter Prescott’s number.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, in an appearance on UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio, Purdy sought a yearly payout of $65MM at the outset of contract talks (via David Bonilla of 49ersWebZone.com).
“Yes, that was his 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.”
Given Purdy’s regression in 2024 and the fact that rival clubs have been rumored to view his surprising success largely as a function of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s system, it was always unlikely he would approach his $65MM/year overture. However, contrary to prior suggestions that an overly-ambitious ask could throw a wrench in negotiations, it seems that was not the case.
Club brass never wavered on its long-held goal of finalizing an extension for Purdy, and after conversations got underway in February – Purdy was not eligible for a new contract until this offseason – there was no whisper of a hiccup or any other development that would delay an agreement. Rather, all public reports published after that date indicated the two sides were making good progress, and that progress culminated in a five-year, $265MM accord on May 16.
It thus appears that neither player nor team ever injected the notion of a trade into these proceedings, and Schefter confirms as much.
“I remember talking to teams, and just being like, ‘Hey,’ as they were trying to solve their quarterback needs, ‘any interest in Brock Purdy?'” Schefter said. “And they were like, ‘Great player, but he’s a great player for them.’ So they didn’t see it that way. So that was the opinion of other teams.”
Schefter’s statement does seem to validate the above-referenced belief that other teams see Purdy as a Shanahan product who would not do as well in a different offense. Perhaps aware of that reality, Purdy & Co. came down quite a bit from their initial proposal and ultimately “settled” for a contract well below their $65MM shot across the bow (the deal does come with a no-trade clause and favorable short-term cash flow, though the new money figures become more team-friendly in the second year of the extension term).
With his contract situation now resolved, Purdy and the Niners will attempt to regroup from a significant departure of talent this offseason – which was triggered in no small part by the QB’s impending big-money deal – and launch a bounceback 2025 campaign.
I wonder if his agent heard the SF front office burst out laughing when he asked for 65 mill. He’s a good quarterback, but was very fortunate to be drafted into Shanahan’s world.
He’s a classic overachiever but give him credit as the last player selected in the ‘22 draft he worked hard for that contract. He just has to continue to play well and not become complacent
I asked my boss at the liquor store for $65M/year as well. We settled instead on $12/hour
Perhaps if you had gotten the boss roaring drunk before the negotiations you could have convinced him he was getting a real bargain.
Did he pick up your fifth year option too?😂
From google: Brock Purdy’s NFL career record as of the end of the 2024 season is 26-14. This includes his regular season and playoff games. Additionally, Purdy has a 30-16 record when including both regular season and playoff games,
Sounds like Brock works perfectly in that system. He’s a proven winner. Hate the term system QB.
I always wondered what would happen if solid QBs were drafted elsewhere. Would Tom Brady have been the same if he was drafted by the saints? Browns? Oilers? I tend to agree that Purdy is a system fit, as did literally every other team in the league that passed on drafting him. That being said he’s been pretty darn good for them.
Probably has as much to do with the weapons around him and the system he plays in. I’m fairly certain he would not be making 50m per if he was drafted by the Jets
I wonder how much of an oversimplification the “product of the system” argument is. So many QB coaches and OCs have been highly successful, but then flopped as head coaches with underperforming QBs. It may be too dismissive to connect Purdy’s poor draft pedigree and Shanahan’s coordinating skill as responsible for Purdy’s success.
Purdy should have asked for $65MM AND the Golden Gate bridge. Then he might have got Prescott type money.