The 49ers’ challenging summer of contract talks wrapped up with San Francisco giving major deals to stars Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk, ensuring they were ready for the season opener.
The next player in line for a big contract could be Brock Purdy. He could move from being one of the NFL’s best bargains, playing on a seventh-round draft pick contract, to a deal worth more than $50 million a year once he’s eligible for an extension after this season.
“Brock has clearly exceeded the expectations of a ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ contract. I would be thrilled to see his life change after getting a new deal because he deserves it,” Williams said this week.
“If you’re looking for an inspiring story in the NFL, this is it. No one thought he could achieve what he’s done.
Even though he doesn’t look like the typical first-round quarterback, he’s outperforming all of them. His performance speaks for itself.”
San Francisco has been preparing for Purdy’s future big contract, with owner Jed York noting earlier in the offseason that his quarterback will soon receive a significant payout.
The 49ers have already handed out several high-value contracts. The four-year, $120 million extension for Aiyuk and the three-year, $82.7 million deal with Williams are the most recent examples.
These deals follow Nick Bosa’s five-year, $170 million extension last year, which set a new standard for defensive linemen.
Receiver Deebo Samuel received a $23.85 million annual deal in 2022, and running back Christian McCaffrey, linebacker Fred Warner, tight end George Kittle, and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave are all among the top earners at their positions.
Purdy’s situation is easier to handle because he was on a four-year, $3.7 million contract as the final pick in the 2022 draft. According to the collective bargaining agreement, Purdy can start negotiating a new contract on Jan. 6, the day after the regular season ends.
San Francisco has more than $45 million in salary cap space for this season, which will roll over to the next season, giving them more room to pay Purdy.
“I’m extremely proud of him. I care about him a lot,” Williams said. “He deserves every cent he’s going to get. I want to help him get exactly what he deserves.”
After winning his first seven games as a rookie, Purdy raised his performance last season. He led the NFL with a passer rating of 113 and yards per attempt at 9.6, was third in touchdown passes with 31, and set a franchise record with 4,280 passing yards.
This performance made Purdy an MVP finalist and positioned him for a big contract. There are already eight quarterbacks earning at least $50 million a year, and Purdy is expected to join them.
With Purdy earning $985,000 this season—less than 66 other quarterbacks—he has turned to endorsements to boost his income. He has appeared in commercials for John Deere, Applebee’s, and Western wear brand Ariat.
“With the lifestyle and privacy for my wife and me, and the things we can do with our family outside football, we need to find ways to earn money,” Purdy said.
“Marketing is a great chance for us. I’m trying to provide for my family because you never know what the future holds. So, we’ve been smart about it, and that’s why I’ve taken these opportunities this offseason.”
