SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers brass have a similar mindset regarding one of the biggest offseason issues surrounding the organization.
Both sides would like to work out a long-term extension with Purdy as soon as possible and not have contract talks yet about the team when the offseason program begins in mid-April.
“I think what we know about Brock is that he’s our guy,” general manager John Lynch said Wednesday. “We’re interested in Brock being here for a long, long time. He’s done a lot for our organization, he’s won big games. He had a little bit of a tougher job, as we all did, this year with some of the things that happened throughout the year. the process. Over the course of the year… We will have some time here in the next few weeks to sit down together and work out our entire plan. Obviously, that is a priority, that position, and we will give it that attention.”
Purdy is nearing the end of one of the NFL’s biggest deals for the 49ers, with one year remaining on the rookie contract he signed as the final pick in the 2022 draft. Purdy has made less than $1 million a year during his first three seasons and is set to get a small raise in 2025 to around $5.2 million in 2025 under the league’s proven performance scale to make the Pro Bowl last season.
But Purdy’s play has far exceeded that salary and he is now eligible to negotiate an extension for the first time and could be in line for a contract that will pay him more than $50 million a year.
Purdy said Monday that he is not looking to reset the market at the position where Dallas’ Dak Prescott has the highest average annual salary at $60 million a year. He said he has no interest in leaving San Francisco and emphasized the importance of closing the deal before the start of the offseason program.
“Everyone is different, just in the timing of something,” Purdy said. “For me, obviously I want to do it. If that’s an opportunity to be able to do it quickly, that would be great. It’s that simple.” We can go back to phase one, fight with the receivers and our team, and continue to grow because we all have to grow together, we have to reach out, learn and be the best version of ourselves. “
After finishing fourth in MVP voting in his first full season as a starter in 2023, Purdy was much less productive This season, injuries to playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk had a major impact on the Niners’ offense.
Purdy’s passer rating dropped nearly 17 points to 96.1, he had just 20 TD passes and 12 INTs on the season, and he also came up short in several late-game scenarios when the 49ers had a chance to come back.
But Purdy also grew as a leader, showed more mobility to extend plays and solidified himself as the team’s long-term plan at quarterback.
“I loved these three years with Brock,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I plan to be with Brock here the entire time I’m here. Brock has been a stud. He is a person in whom I have a lot of confidence as a human being, but it starts with what he has done on the field these last two and a half years. We are capable of winning a Super Bowl with him. We almost made it. And I know he is capable of getting the Niners a Super Bowl in the future.”
Technical staff
The Niners have already made some big moves on the coaching staff, firing defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen and special teams coordinator Brian Schneider.
Shanahan said it was a difficult decision to fire Sorensen after one season, but he felt there were people available who would be a “better fit.”
The Niners have run a similar defensive system for years, but Shanahan said he’s open to the possibility of changes with a new coordinator.
“I love the scheme we have had here. “I think it’s one of the hardest things to do when you have the right people in the right places,” Shanahan said. “But I do think that people adapt to schemes, and I think that you also have to adapt depending on your situation.” staff.”
Shanahan said he would like to be able to keep Sorensen in another role on the staff, if interested, with the possibility of being special teams coordinator after he filled that role in Jacksonville in 2021.
The 49ers also plan to promote passing game specialist Klay Kubiak to offensive coordinator with Shanahan still as play-caller. The move will prevent other teams from stealing a coordinator position from Kubiak.
free agency
Lynch said a restructure was made to defensive tackle Javon Hargrave’s contract early this season with the intention of cutting him at the start of the new league year with a post-June 1 designation to spread the dead cap over the next two seasons. . The Niners could still try to bring Hargrave back on a cheaper deal if their market isn’t strong.
Lynch said the team has no plans to cut ties with catcher Deebo Samuel, who struggled much of this season and is entering the final year of his contract.
Shanahan said the team would like to be able to retain linebacker Dre Greenlaw, but it will depend on what his market is in free agency.
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Josh Dubow, Associated Press