Brock Purdy’s 5-year extension ties him with Jared Goff for most money-per-year. It’s a fair deal for both sides.
Brock Purdy has gone from the biggest bargain in the NFL to tying for seventh in highest-paid quarterbacks on a per-year basis.
The “saga,” if you want to call it that, has ended far earlier than most 49ers fans are used to. The quarterback has signed a five-year, $265 million contract. Unlike the regular yearly contract drama fans have grown accustomed to, Purdy and tight end George Kittle have extensions wrapped up before training camp begins.
So now we can look at all the speculation. $55 million seemed like the magic number for Purdy. Some speculated $60 million or more to unseat Dak Prescott’s deal. Instead, Purdy’s $53 million per year ties him for 7th in money per year with Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
Here’s the list of quarterbacks ahead of Purdy:
- Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys – $60 million)
- Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals– $55 million)
- Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills– $55 million)
- Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers – $55 million)
- Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars – $55 million)
- Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins – $53.1 million)
The Purdy contract makes the Prescott contract look even more ridiculous, both when it was signed and today. Then you have Burrow, Allen, Love, and Lawrence at $55 million. Only one of those quarterbacks has arguably a better resume than Purdy (Allen), and the other one I’d argue is a better quarterback (Burrow). Is he better than either?
Objectively? No.
Jordan Love makes $2 million more; is he better? That’s a good argument. Some may want to convince you “yes,” but we saw what happened when Love dueled Purdy. Purdy dealt with the rain and brought the team back while Love threw a game-sealing pick after his offense ran all over the 49ers.
Then there’s Trevor Lawrence. Is he better? We don’t know because of the Jaguars’ issues. Again, Purdy has done more than Lawrence has. There’s also Tua Tagovailoa. Is he better? Answer that question yourself.
What I’m getting at here is that there are quarterbacks ahead of Purdy, some better, others not yet having done what Purdy has done. Purdy has been to two NFC Championship games and had the 49ers knocking on a Super Bowl win. He wouldn’t be out of line to be paid in the $55 million-or-more tier. Instead, he settles for $53 million. Purdy has shown he is the perfect quarterback to run Kyle Shanahan’s offense, provided said offense isn’t blanketed in injuries.
So, if you look at it that way, it’s a fair deal for both sides. Purdy didn’t fleece the 49ers for an additional 2-7 million to be the No. 1 paid quarterback. Nor did he take a deal, putting him into the top 15.
Purdy gets above $50 million. He could have held out for Dak Prescott or Trevor Lawrence money, but he didn’t. Is he a better quarterback than either? If his resume indicates anything, he is. If the 49ers are humming and have weapons for him to utilize rather than an injured roster and a defense that can’t hold onto a lead (you know, that thing most NFL teams need to be effective), Purdy has shown he can run that offense efficiently. That $2-$7 million can be utilized elsewhere, maybe an offensive line, or to keep his wide receivers happy.
And if you think the 49ers should have given him less, exactly what should they have offered with the resume Purdy has? And if Purdy should have fleeced them, would you have put him in the Burrow/Allen conversation?
This gets the 49ers their quarterback, their quarterback gets paid, and the 49ers aren’t stuck paying for him while unable to field a team around him.
This is a fair deal. The 49ers have their guy, and he didn’t break their cap to get it done. What more do you want?