The Niners paid their franchise quarterback a hefty extension this offseason.
The biggest piece of business for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason was extending franchise quarterback Brock Purdy, and they were able to get a deal done relatively early.
Purdy was extended in mid-May, signing a five-year deal worth $265 million with $181 million in total guarantees. It was imperative that the 49ers figure out a way to get Purdy under contract for the foreseeable future before their offseason program really kicked off.
Well, they were able to get a deal done before mandatory minicamp, ensuring that there were no locker room problems after a taxing offseason last year.
Now, the pressure has shifted to Purdy’s side, as the quarterback will look to bounce back from a 6-11 campaign where he threw for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while dealing with an injury-plagued supporting cast.
The 49ers clearly believe that Purdy is one of the top quarterbacks in the league, paying him like one with the five-year extension. But, is he a top 10 signal-caller entering the 2025 season?
CBS Sports recently did a quarterback tier rankings, breaking down the group into several categories: Transcendent Talents, Borderline Stars, Promising Prospects, Volatile Veterans, Prized Project, and Holdovers and Placeholders.
Purdy fell into the second category, being named a borderline star as part of an eight-quarterback group.
“The physical fragility of the San Francisco 49ers finally got to Purdy in Year 3, when his struggles playing from behind were clearer than ever,” CBS Sports’s Cody Benjamin wrote. “Still, this kid is a Kyle Shanahan favorite for good reason. He’s a wily and underrated play-extender, he isn’t afraid to let it fly, and his collectedness took him to the biggest stage before.”
Purdy was looped into a category with Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, and Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Quite the group to be in.
They fell behind the top six quarterbacks, considered to be transcendent talents. That group included Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels.
Overall, Purdy is ranked ninth on the list, with Stafford and Goff being ahead of him in the “Borderline Stars” category.
He’ll be dealing with a different supporting cast to begin the 2025 season, as Christian McCaffrey is back healthy, while Brandon Aiyuk will likely miss some time to begin the season.
In addition, Deebo Samuel is no longer on the team, with Ricky Pearsall sliding into the No. 2 spot on the outside, while Jauan Jennings reprises his role. However, with an opening in the starting lineup, Jennings could shift to the outside to start the year, paving the way for a youngster like Jacob Cowing or Jordan Watkins to see early playing time in the slot.
With an easier schedule on paper and better health, the hope is that Purdy and the 49ers can bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season and return to playoff contention. Following the big contract, the pressure is on now for the quarterback to deliver.