Brock Purdy is in line for the biggest raise in NFL history.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.1 million next season, well below the market rate for a quarterback who earned Pro Bowl honors last season. Purdy is eligible for a contract extension starting Monday, and after being one of the NFL’s top bargains, he’s looking to join the frenzy of signal-callers who have recently cashed in.
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That list includes Trevor Lawerence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, the latter of whom became the highest-paid player in NFL history. NFL (first to average $60 million per season). Purdy, the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is looking to reset the market, but accomplishing that feat could prove much more difficult than converting on fourth-and-long.
After last season’s Super Bowl LIV appearance, Purdy and the injury-plagued 49ers (6-10) will miss the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020. The QB’s declining performance in multiple categories, along with his injury history (he will miss this week’s Super Bowl LIV, ending with a right elbow contusion) will make negotiations more complicated, especially since some of the league’s recently signed quarterbacks have not. had a good start.
Lawrence, whose new contract pays 55 million dollars a year On average, he hasn’t lived up to his expectations since being selected No. 1 out of Clemson in 2021, and the Jaguars have fallen to a 4-12 record in the first year of his contract. Tagovailoa has a well-publicized history of concussions and his persistent hip problems are another threat to the longevity of his career. Prescott also saw his 2024 campaign end prematurely; He underwent season-ending surgery to repair his right hamstring.
Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson historical contractSigned in 2022, he continues to generate apprehension in teams when it comes to handing out a lot of guaranteed money. The Browns have restructured that contract three times as they try to remain competitive with limited flexibility due to the ill-advised deal.
“San Francisco, because of its successful team-building strategy, is not in a position where it has to readjust the market,” former Houston Texans executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby said in a phone interview. . “The current precedent of what has happened with $50 million (per year) quarterbacks should give them pause to do so.”
Easterby, who negotiated Watson’s $160 million extension with Houston in 2020, believes the 49ers’ roster-building methods allow them to potentially move on from Purdy and get a below-market-value deal for their next starting quarterback. . San Francisco general manager John Lynch could consider bringing back the resurgent Sam Darnold, an impending free agent who is having a Pro Bowl year with the Minnesota Vikings, if he is available this offseason.
Purdy, a former third-string quarterback who took over the starting role at the end of his rookie season, has been one of the best “Mr. “Irrelevant” stories in the history of the league. The 49ers have indicated that Purdy is their franchise quarterback, but time will tell how much they are willing to spend. It will be a critical deal that could become more expensive if the 49ers decide to put the franchise tag on the former Iowa State standout when the final year of his contract expires.
The quarterback’s tag in 2026 is projected to be more than $40 million, which is more cash in one season than 49ers legend Joe Montana earned in his career (approximately $25 million in on-field earnings).
But if extension talks stall this offseason and Purdy plays well next fall, he could get even more money. The Cowboys, for example, were forced to pay a lot of money for not securing Prescott long-term early in his career, allowing him to set multiple NFL contract records, including total guaranteed money ($231 million).
On the other hand, the Packers were instrumental in extending Love, who didn’t have much history as a starter before signing a $220 million contract worth $55 million per year. While Green Bay fans can debate whether Love has validated that deal so far, the Packers avoided a headache down the road by locking up their long-term quarterback, who will lead his team to the postseason for a second year. consecutive.
That may be how the 49ers feel about Purdy and the opportunity to lock down their long-term partner. But is Purdy willing to accept a team-friendly deal as San Francisco looks to retain other key players, or is he determined to test his market?
With one of the best QBR ratings in the league since taking over as the starter in 2022, Purdy has leverage, but perhaps not enough to stay with the 49ers for record money. Another option is that the 25-year-old could end up signing a shorter contract while also getting a hefty raise.
With the 49ers’ offseason approaching, Purdy made history Monday night football last week against Detroit, posting 15 games with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of at least 115. That’s more than any NFL quarterback has had in his first three seasons. He also set a career-high in passing yards (377) in the NFC championship rematch loss to Jared Goff and the playoff-bound Lions. Notably, Goff signed a $212 million contract earlier this year (averaging $53 million per season) that keeps him in Detroit through 2027 with an option for 2028.
That’s the amount of money Purdy is looking for. Fellow QBs and front offices around the league will be paying attention, given the $50 million-plus deals that have spread across the league lately. The 49ers quarterback’s rise has been storybook, but the time to pay for his services is approaching; The question now is how big that check will be.
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