Some things in life are certain—the sun rises every morning, and the moon sets every evening. For the San Francisco 49ers, another certainty is the inevitable contract extension for Brock Purdy.
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have both confirmed it’s only a matter of time, and Purdy himself has echoed that sentiment. The real questions are how much he will earn and how long he will remain in San Francisco.
While estimates range from $30 million per year to a record-setting $65 million annually, the final figure is likely to fall somewhere in between.
In his latest Winter Mailbag for the San Francisco Standard, insider Tim Kawakami provides updates on Purdy’s ongoing contract negotiations with the 49ers.
Latest on Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ Contract Talks
Though not directly asked about Purdy’s contract, Kawakami took the opportunity to address the topic anyway. According to him, negotiations are progressing smoothly, and a clear timeline for an agreement is emerging.
“I received no questions about Brock Purdy’s contract situation with the 49ers, which is the true pivot point of this offseason. Clearly, 49ers fans don’t seem too worried about this negotiation; I think that’s an accurate take,” Kawakami writes. “This probably will get done.
But the timing is important, too. The 49ers and Purdy don’t want this stretching into OTAs and minicamp and forcing Purdy to make a decision whether or not to skip those sessions, ‘hold-in,’ or whatever.”
San Francisco has a history of prolonged contract negotiations. Just last season, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams skipped practices and preseason activities due to contract disputes. However, both Purdy and the 49ers are committed to avoiding such distractions this time around.
That said, the structure of Purdy’s contract could complicate matters, a point Kawakami also highlights.
Details of Purdy’s Contract
Kawakami reports that while both sides are working to prevent a contract standoff, the 49ers may be exploring alternative contract structures to reach an agreement.
“I heard from a plugged-in NFL source this week that the 49ers and Purdy’s camp are, indeed, feeling like there won’t be fireworks on the way to an eventual deal. But I’ve also heard generally that the framework might be a little different than some other recent QB deals.”
Kawakami adds, “I suspect this means the 49ers could be pitching a shorter-term, lesser-guarantee deal compared to the full-commitment deals signed by Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, and others over the last few years. Will Purdy and his agent be happy with that? Assuredly, there’ll be some negotiations. Nobody makes their best offer right off the bat. It might take time.”
Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars recently agreed to a five-year, $275 million extension with $200 million guaranteed. Given Purdy’s superior playoff success and MVP-caliber 2023 season, it’s unlikely his agent would accept a contract structured in the way Kawakami suggests.
If the 49ers are indeed proposing a shorter-term, lesser-guaranteed contract, it raises questions about their true commitment to Purdy.
This would contrast with Kyle Shanahan’s comments earlier in the offseason, when he stated that he expects Purdy to be in San Francisco as long as he is. That either means Shanahan doesn’t plan to be around much longer, or the team isn’t fully convinced Purdy is their long-term quarterback—neither of which seems likely.
Brock Purdy will get paid, but the final details of his contract remain uncertain.
