Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The San Francisco 49ers once thought Trey Lance would be their future. After drafting him third overall in 2021, the team hoped to win a Super Bowl by building around a quarterback on a rookie contract. That plan worked — just not with Lance. Instead, Brock Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 draft, stepped in and became the face of the franchise. He led the 49ers to back-to-back NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance in 2023. But despite those successes, the 49ers still haven’t claimed their sixth Lombardi Trophy.
Highest-Paid Player in Team History
Now, the bargain is over. The 49ers signed Purdy to a five-year, $265 million deal this offseason. The contract includes $181 million in guarantees, making Purdy the highest-paid player in team history and the seventh-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL based on annual average.
While the deal’s early cap hits are manageable, the pressure is on. Purdy’s days of being one of the best bargains in football are behind him — and he must now prove he’s worth the investment.
A Favorable Setup for 2025
The 49ers enter 2025 with the NFL’s easiest schedule, based on last year’s win-loss records. And they expect to welcome back key offensive pieces who missed time in 2024. Running back Christian McCaffrey, receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and left tackle Trent Williams should all return healthy. Tight end George Kittle, who recently signed an extension, remains one of Purdy’s most trusted targets.
With those stars in place, the opportunity is there for Purdy to deliver. Another Super Bowl run might be a stretch considering the roster turnover, but a return to his 2023 form would be a strong sign that the 49ers made the right call.
Proven Numbers Back Up the Praise
Team owner Jed York made headlines in March when he said Purdy is one of the ten best quarterbacks in the league. It’s not just talk. Since becoming the starter in late 2022, Purdy ranks fourth in Total QBR (70.2), third in passing yards (9,452), first in yards per attempt (8.9), and seventh in touchdown passes (64). York made it clear the team sees Purdy as a long-term leader.
Big Contract, Big Changes
Even before Purdy signed his new deal, the 49ers were already reshaping the roster. This offseason saw the departures of top contributors like Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Aaron Banks, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Jordan Mason. On defense, they also released linemen Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd.
The result was a massive $81 million in dead cap space — the highest in the NFL — and a roster that will rely heavily on 11 rookies. It’s clear the team cleared the deck to make room for Purdy’s extension.
Support from the Locker Room
Despite the financial shake-up, Purdy still has the full support of San Francisco’s core leaders. Fred Warner, Kittle, Williams, and McCaffrey have all publicly backed the quarterback and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the team forward.
Time to Answer the Call
Purdy’s 2024 season came with challenges. With several starters sidelined, his production dipped. His touchdown-to-interception ratio dropped from 2.8 in 2023 to 1.7 in 2024, and he struggled in late-game situations. When trailing in the fourth quarter, he posted just three touchdowns and five interceptions, with a QBR of 54.6 — 20th in the NFL.
Still, he finished the year with a 67.9 QBR (seventh-best in the league) and ran for a career-high 323 yards with five rushing scores. The team saw enough to commit to him as the franchise quarterback.
A New Era in San Francisco
For Kyle Shanahan, giving out a big quarterback contract means full trust. If that trust is misplaced, it can set a team back for years. The 49ers believe Purdy is worth the bet — not just to maintain past success, but to elevate the team even as pieces around him change.
Now, it’s up to Purdy to lead the next chapter of 49ers football — and prove he can carry the weight of being the guy.
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This report used information from ESPN.
