The San Francisco 49ers have treated this free agency cycle as an opportunity to shed salary and reset.
More than a year removed from their close Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers are essentially blowing it up after a down year in 2024. Part of that salary dump is likely with Brock Purdy’s future in mind, as the quarterback is entering the final year of his rookie deal and will soon be in line for a big payday.
That said, not everyone is convinced Purdy is worth a massive contract—including one NFL analyst who made it clear he wouldn’t just hand him a blank check.
Nick Wright: San Francisco 49ers Should Be Cautious With Brock Purdy’s Contract
Nick Wright of Fox Sports has never been shy about offering bold opinions, and he had plenty to say about how the 49ers should approach Purdy’s contract negotiations.
Needless to say, the looming extension is bound to be the story of San Francisco’s season, and one of the league’s most polarizing passers will find himself in the spotlight because of it.
On The Herd, Wright laid out his stance.
“If I were running the Niners, I would offer Brock such a team-friendly, almost insulting deal, that I didn’t expect him to take because I really do want to see him this year without a super team around him. If he looks like he did last year without a super team around him, and if that’s the case, then that’s simply a player you cannot pay $55+ million.”
It’s hard to argue that Purdy isn’t worth $55 million per year—that’s just the going rate for top quarterbacks signing new deals.
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As of now, five quarterbacks are making that amount or more, including Josh Allen, who just signed his extension. All five deals were signed within the past two years, with four coming in the last calendar year.
Here’s a look at those contracts, per Spotrac:
- Dak Prescott — $60M per year (signed in 2024)
- Josh Allen — $55M per year (signed in 2025)
- Trevor Lawrence — $55M per year (signed in 2024)
- Joe Burrow — $55M per year (signed in 2023)
- Jordan Love — $55M per year (signed in 2024)
The Purdy contract negotiations will be fascinating to follow. His success as the 49ers’ starter is undeniable—with a Super Bowl appearance and another NFC Championship Game appearance where he left with an injury.
Even with the team’s struggles last season, Purdy played well. According to PFSN’s QB+, he finished as the seventh-best quarterback in the league, playing at a level that suggests he has earned a major payday.
Now the question is whether San Francisco will pay up, or if head coach Kyle Shanahan will take Wright’s approach instead, opening the organization up to uncertainty under center.