At the same time, there are others who caution against an extension. Their argument is that the Niners should let Purdy play out the final year of his contract in San Francisco so the team can truly determine if he is the quarterback of the future.
Purdy has not enjoyed the same season he had in 2023 when he was in the MVP conversation, but he has not been atrocious. Thus far, he has 2,707 passing yards and 13 touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions. His 64.7 QBR is seventh-best in the NFL.
He has also displayed his prowess as a runner more than he has in the past. This season, he has rushed the ball 53 times for 271 yards and four touchdowns. His legs and agility have now become a key part of his game.
Part of the reason why the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft has had to run more, and subsequently why his passing numbers are down, is because of the injuries the Niners have suffered on offense. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk went down in Week 7, and star running back Christian McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the season and only played in four games before going down with a season-ending PCL injury.
Given all of the adversity the team has faced, Purdy has played quite well. He has definitely proven enough in his three NFL seasons to show he is a top-10 quarterback who can lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl. He and the Niners were just one or two plays away from winning the Lomardi Trophy last season, too.
However, if Purdy were to receive an insane contract that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL, that could guarantee the 49ers would not win a Super Bowl with him. 2024 has made clear that there are a lot of holes on the roster, holes that could be filled if Purdy were to instead sign a more team-friendly deal.
There is reason to believe Purdy would sign such a deal. While some projections have him earning north of $60 million per year, he may take a page out of Tom Brady’s book and sign a deal that would benefit San Francisco.
What if instead of a $60 million per-year deal, Purdy signed a a five-year $200 million contract that would earn him $40 million annually? That is still a huge contract and the Niners could sweeten it by ensuring most of it is guaranteed money.
That extra $20 million per year could be used to improve the team on both sides of the ball. Purdy knows that football is a team game and that he cannot win a Super Bowl on his own. It would not be at all surprising if he did the selfless thing and signed a contract that would be better for San Francisco overall.
If he did, it would keep the championship window open for the 49ers and would allow them to make some much-needed improvements this offseason.
