Brock Purdy’s contract extension is the clearest, most pressing offseason box the San Francisco 49ers have to check. ESPN’s Adam Schefter isn’t so sure they’ll check it this offseason, or any of the next two in what could be a nightmare scenario for the 49ers and their franchise QB.

On an episode of the Adam Schefter Podcast, Schefter didn’t sound convinced the 49ers and Purdy would get a contract done this offseason. He instead lays out a timeline where San Francisco kicks the can on his extension down the road multiple years by way of the franchise tag.

“I think people forget the fact that if they can’t get a deal done, the Niners simply could have him play this year for $5.1 million, tag him again next year for $41 million, and tag him the year after for $51 million. That would be essentially $97 million over the next three years, which is great, but by quarterback standards, it’s not great.

“Brock Purdy probably, or at least his agent probably, would be disappointed to have to play for $97 million over the next three years, but the Niners have his rights. So, they’re going to try to get done a deal, but the deal is not going to be where Brock Purdy is a free agent and he’s on the open market because he’s not.”

This might be fine for the 49ers from a financial standpoint, but they need stability under center. Establishing early in the offseason that Purdy is the team’s franchise signal caller by rewarding him with a contract commensurate with that title is essential for the health of San Francisco’s future. By kicking the can down the road with franchise tags, they open doors to questions about their commitment to Purdy for each of the next three seasons.

Making their commitment to the QB the No. 1 question looming over the organization is not a great way to go about building a Super Bowl contender in a league dominated by teams with certainty at the most important position.

While the franchise tag route is available for San Francisco, Schefter didn’t close the door on the two sides agreeing to an extension this offseason.

“So this, again, is a complicated, nuanced deal to get done,” Schefter said. “And I believe it’s going to take some time, I believe, for both sides to work through to see if they can get a deal done this offseason, which isn’t a lock. But the 49ers want to keep him. They want to pay him. But they’re limited in what they actually can do because they’re so financially committed, because they pushed off their debts from other years to right now.”

The 49ers will enter the offseason with more than $30 million in salary cap space according to Over the Cap. A big QB contract may wind up squeezing them financially down the line, but if they’re certain Purdy is their franchise QB, they should prioritize his contract this year and figure out answers to additional questions down the road.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL insider not convinced 49ers get Brock Purdy contract done