San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had been seeking a new deal since the start of the offseason. … and the decision – one way or the other – was to be the centerpiece of this franchise’s offseason decision-making process.
And now we’re here, this week Purdy having signed a five-year extension worth $265 million, a deal which includes $181 million in guarantees.
That’s quite a leap from the rookie contract that paid him an average of $853,333 per season.
And it’s quite a leap to being the highest-paid player in franchise history.
What’s next?
“Pressure.”
In a recent ESPN piece on the deal, the Worldwide Leader takes not one, not two, but three swings at trying to make that case.
Swing No. 1: “The Niners — for better or worse — are now in Purdy’s hands. … and it’s up to him to deliver at a level commensurate with being the seventh highest-paid quarterback in the NFL (on a per-year basis).”
Swing No. 2: “Purdy must prove he is, as 49ers owner Jed York called him at the league meetings in March, one of the 10 best quarterbacks in the league.”
Swing No. 3: “The inherent implication in Purdy’s new deal is that the onus falls on him to be the type of force multiplier who can raise the production of those around him and usher in a new era of 49ers football with him at the forefront.”
In other words, “pressure” … times three.
The former seventh-rounder turned franchise quarterback is 23-13 as a starter and has had plenty of playoff success (a 4-2 record) over his first three years. That was evidence enough that he deserved to get paid.
At the same time …
Despite Purdy’s overall success, the 49ers struggled to a 6-11 season last year. Should that count against their starting quarterback?
Well, consider this: When did Purdy’s numbers drop? It happened in 2024 when he was without Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams for much of the year as the Niners lineup missed other key starters over the course of the campaign.
Is Purdy, with an on-paper average annual salary of $53 million, supposed to carry the Niners back to the Super Bowl while leading a lineup that is absent three star players? Is he supposed to do so no matter what?
On the subject of paying big money to a QB, coach Kyle Shanahan recently said, “You need to be certain on that. If you pay a quarterback and if that’s not who you’re certain about, then it’s not going to be very fun after that.”
Brock Purdy as the long-term QB here? That can be “fun.” But he’d better find “fun” in expectations, too – because they are now at an all-time high.
Related: Ravens Lamar Signing Next Up After Massive Purdy Contract?