The San Francisco 49ers appear ready to make Brock Purdy their quarterback of the future, but they may need to act swiftly to finalize a deal.
While the 2024 season has been frustrating for the 49ers, Purdy’s performance has been steady. Extending him seems like the logical next step, but The Athletic columnist Mike Silver believes the team must move quickly.
In a recent podcast for The Athletic, Silver discussed the possibility of Purdy commanding a $60-million-a-year contract. While he admitted the exact figure might not be clear, he emphasized the urgency for San Francisco.
“I would say yes, and I think Kyle [Shanahan] decided that long ago—like Christmas two years ago, honestly, when he was thrown in,” Silver said when asked if Purdy is worth a massive extension. “But this is a new world, right? And instead of having this collection of highly-paid, in-their-prime All-Stars and a quarterback on the cheapest rookie deal ever—whether it’s [$60 million] or not, I don’t know—I would just urge the 49ers, based on recent history, figure it out and do it quick. Like do it early. Don’t make this a thing that drags out based on how that’s affected them.”
San Francisco has learned the hard way what delays in negotiations can cost, as evidenced by the challenges they’ve faced with two of their star players.
49ers Stars Struggle After Contract Holdouts
Holdouts are a common occurrence in big-money contract talks. While inevitable at times, they often lead to complications. The 49ers have been burned by this twice in recent years with DE Nick Bosa and WR Brandon Aiyuk.
Bosa held out for 44 days in 2023 before securing his $170-million deal. Although he delivered a solid season with 10.5 sacks, it was a noticeable drop from his 18.5 and 15.5-sack seasons in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The late resolution in September appeared to have an impact, as Bosa recorded just one sack in the first four games of the season.
Aiyuk’s case was even more pronounced. After landing a $120-million contract, his 2024 season got off to a rough start, marred by injury and underperformance. In the first four games, the 26-year-old receiver managed only 167 yards and failed to score a touchdown.
An ACL and MCL tear later in the season further underscored the challenges of missing a full preseason with the team.
Purdy Takes a Step Back in 2024
In a season plagued by injuries, Purdy’s regression has been apparent. However, it’s worth noting that he has often played without key teammates like RB Christian McCaffrey and Aiyuk.
After throwing for 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 games last year, Purdy’s numbers have dipped to 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 2024. His efficiency has also dropped, with his yards per attempt falling from 9.6 in 2023 to 8.4 this season, and his passing yards per game decreasing to 246.1.
There’s no denying that Purdy hasn’t been as effective, but the reasons behind his struggles remain a subject of debate. For many, 2024 has felt like a cursed season for the 49ers.
Now, the franchise faces a major decision regarding Purdy. His performance this year hasn’t erased all doubts about a potential extension, and the 2025 offseason is likely to center on his future contract.
