Brock Purdy, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, is currently one of the lowest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. However, he is eligible for an extension next offseason, which could result in a significant pay raise for him. Despite his low salary compared to other quarterbacks in the league, the 49ers are open to giving Purdy a large bump in pay. This was expressed by 49ers CEO Jed York, who stated that it is a positive situation when your quarterback is one of the highest-paid players on the team and in the league. Purdy’s status as a seventh-round pick on his rookie deal places him among the lower percentiles of players in terms of salary, with his earnings gradually increasing as his career progresses.
Purdy had a salary of $705,000 during his rookie year in 2022, which was increased to $870,000 the following season. Despite his upcoming cap hit exceeding $1 million in 2024, his salary remains lower than that amount, placing him below many backup quarterbacks in terms of earnings. Despite his relatively low salary, Purdy’s performance on the field has been impressive. He ranked high in various statistical categories such as passing yards, passing touchdowns, yards per attempt, and passer rating during the previous season. York acknowledged that if Purdy maintains his strong performance in the upcoming season, his salary should reflect his standing among other quarterbacks in the league.
Comparisons have been drawn between Purdy and other quarterbacks who recently signed lucrative deals in the NFL. For instance, Joe Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million contract with a salary of $55 million, making him the highest-paid quarterback in the league. Given the success of Purdy’s 49ers teams in reaching the playoffs, there is speculation that he could potentially earn a similarly high salary as the NFL’s salary cap continues to increase. The decision on whether to make Purdy one of the highest-paid quarterbacks will ultimately be made by key figures within the 49ers organization, including general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Despite the potential for a significant increase in Purdy’s salary, the 49ers have a history of paying top dollar for quarterbacks. Jimmy Garoppolo was previously given a five-year, $137.5 million deal, which was the largest for a quarterback at the time. York mentioned that when they signed Garoppolo, it briefly held the record for the largest deal in NFL history. The importance of the quarterback position in football and sports in general was highlighted by York, who emphasized that quarterbacks should be compensated accordingly. As discussions around Purdy’s extension continue, it remains to be seen how much the 49ers are willing to invest in their young quarterback and how it will impact their future salary cap flexibility.
