The 49ers quarterback received a full no-trade clause on his new deal.
The San Francisco 49ers reached terms with quarterback Brock Purdy on a five-year, $265 million deal late last week, making him one of the highest-paid signal-callers after just three seasons in the NFL.
Purdy, the 262nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has blossomed into San Francisco’s starter even since being thrust into that role late into his rookie season. That has now parlayed into a massive long-term extension, showcasing the commitment from both sides.
Just looking at the numbers, several things pop out, including Purdy’s $181 million in total guarantees and $100 million guaranteed at signing. But, beyond all the numbers, one clause in the fine print especially sticks out: a full no-trade clause.
Purdy had the request written in his contract, becoming one of only 12 quarterbacks to receive a no-trade clause, meaning the 49ers cannot move him without his consent during the entirety of the deal.
Why was it important for Purdy to have in his deal?
“I think it’s important, yes, but also something my agent and I had discussed with what other quarterbacks have around the league in their contract,” Purdy said on Wednesday.
“But, for me, was it going to be a determining factor in signing it or not? No. We were very grateful that we had it in there. But at the end of the day, everything else that the contract entails, we’re extremely excited about. So we’re just grateful how it turned out.”
Purdy now joins the following company with a no-trade clause: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, Jared Goff, Trevor Lawrence, Kirk Cousins, and Deshaun Watson.
Whenever a no-trade clause is involved in a deal, it automatically seems like a big deal, especially in major contracts like the one San Francisco gave Purdy. But is it that big of a deal? Perhaps not.
Obviously, San Francisco hopes that Purdy is productive throughout the duration of his contract, where the thought of a trade never comes up. Looking at the years, 2028 seems to be the inflection point of when new talks can start. The guaranteed money at signing is there through the first three years (2025-27) before the numbers ease up from a dead-money standpoint.
So, if things are going well, it wouldn’t be a surprise if both sides entertained extension talks halfway through the five-year deal. But, on the flip side, if things aren’t going well, why wouldn’t Purdy entertain a trade to a team that is willing to add him?
After all, trading for a quarterback with his contract would almost entirely ensure that it would be a starting gig, which Purdy would definitely have to consider in a trade. Of course, the no-trade clause would help Purdy facilitate a move to a specific location if there are multiple suitors, but ultimately, it doesn’t seem to be a major roadblock in this scenario.
Now, let’s hope that the clause never actually has to come into play, making this conversation irrelevant.