San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been seeking a new contract since the offseason began.
With a 23-13 record as a starter and notable playoff success in his first three seasons, Purdy has made a strong case for an extension.
However, the 49ers appear to be sending a clear message: they don’t believe he’s worth a massive payday.
Despite Purdy’s accomplishments, the team struggled to a 6-11 finish last season—one the young quarterback couldn’t elevate them beyond.
The 49ers entered the draft with more than $38 million in cap space, meaning they had the resources to offer a new deal if they felt it was warranted.
Instead, that cap room shrank after the team signed tight end George Kittle to a four-year, $76 million extension, keeping him among the highest-paid players at his position with an average annual salary of $19.1 million.
While Kittle skipped voluntary workouts, Purdy participated fully—making the team’s decision to reward the older player over the quarterback even more striking.
Still, from a team perspective, it’s understandable.
Though Purdy has performed well, his stats closely resemble those of former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. And quarterbacks with that level of production typically aren’t given elite-level contracts—they’re viewed as transitional starters while a long-term solution is sought.
The fact that San Francisco chose to prioritize an aging tight end over their young signal-caller suggests the team shares that evaluation.
