The San Francisco 49ers are clearly ready to reward Brock Purdy for his incredible emergence as their starting quarterback, and all signs suggest they are ready to do it soon.
Following a report in The Athletic on Sunday that the 49ers have already started talks with Purdy and his representation over a long-term extension that will likely make him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL, owner Jed York said he had met with his quarterback’s agent.
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York was speaking after a ceremony on Monday to mark the Super Bowl handover to the Bay Area, with Levi’s Stadium set to host Super Bowl 60 next year.
Per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, York said: “I know we want Brock here for a long, long time and I believe we will make that work.
“Brock is just a tremendous human being. I’m looking forward to a long-term partnership.”
His remarks in are in keeping with the stance the 49ers’ brass has consistently maintained regarding the future of the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, whose spectacular rise to MVP candidate in 2023 is one of the more remarkable stories of recent years in the league.
Speaking at last year’s owners meetings, York said he was prepared for Purdy to ask for a market-setting contract.
Purdy surpassing Dak Prescott’s $60 million a year deal with the Dallas Cowboys is unlikely following a down year for him and the 49ers in which they missed the playoffs, finishing 6-11 after an injury-riddled season.
But, with ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently writing that Purdy’s extension could average over $55 million a year, it’s clear the former Iowa State star is about to be very handsomely rewarded for helping the 49ers to two NFC Championship Game appearances and to the brink of a Super Bowl victory in his first three seasons in the league.
York is in lockstep with general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, who said last month he plans on “being with Brock here the whole time I’m here”.
When there is that level of agreement across all levels of the organization, it figures to make a contract extension easier to do.
York, whose reputation for paying big up front signing bonuses that prorate across the life of a deal has helped the 49ers manage their salary cap very effectively, has long since been ready to pay what it takes to sign Purdy to a long-term deal. It’s always been a question of when, not if, with Purdy’s extension, and it appears as if we will find out the when in the near future.