Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers looks on before a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite a season filled with injuries and setbacks, the San Francisco 49ers remain steadfast in their confidence in Brock Purdy to anchor the quarterback position.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 49ers are still planning to sign Purdy to a long-term contract extension during the offseason.
“For the San Francisco 49ers, the season has, obviously, not gone as they hoped and expected, leading to some questions about whether or not Brock Purdy is still the guy,” Rapoport said. “From what I am told, he still, in fact, is the guy. The 49ers still plan on locking up Brock Purdy on a long-term extension this coming offseason.”
Purdy, 24, has been a standout since taking over as San Francisco’s starting quarterback in 2022. He led the team to consecutive NFC Championship game appearances and played in last year’s Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. Purdy also finished fifth in MVP voting, with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 games last season.
On his four-year, $3.7 million contract, Purdy is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best values.
However, Purdy has faced challenges in 2024, with 13 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and lower passing efficiency compared to 2023. His yards per attempt have dropped from 9.6 to 8.4, and he’s averaging 246.1 passing yards per game, down from last season’s 269.4.
Brock Purdy’s 2024 Regression
49ers’ QB Brock Purdy throws a pass during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys.
It’s unfair to place all the blame for the 49ers’ struggles on Purdy. Key injuries to Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey and All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk disrupted the offense.
Additionally, the team’s 31st-ranked special teams, missed field goals by kicker Jake Moody, and a defense ranked second-worst in red zone efficiency have contributed to San Francisco’s poor performance.
Yet, 2024 was a critical year for Purdy to prove he could transcend the “game manager” label. Without McCaffrey and Aiyuk, the question was whether Purdy could elevate the 49ers’ offense to the heights seen in 2022 and 2023.
Instead, the team sits at 5-7, facing an uphill battle to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Despite the down year, securing an extension for Purdy sooner rather than later might be the wisest move for the franchise.
Why the 49ers Should Act Quickly
49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy warms up before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
On a recent episode of Scoop City, The Athletic’s Mike Silver discussed Purdy’s contract situation and why the 49ers should expedite the process.
“I would say yes, and I think Kyle [Shanahan] decided that long ago—like Christmas two years ago, honestly, when [Purdy] was thrown in,” Silver said when asked if Purdy would receive an extension. “But this is a new world, right? And so 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.”
The 49ers have a history of contract holdouts, including Brandon Aiyuk, who waited until 12 days before the season opener to sign an extension. However, their recent approach—like signing Deommodore Lenoir to a new deal in November—could signal a shift in strategy.
Regardless of timing, Purdy is poised to become San Francisco’s next franchise quarterback.
