Brock Purdy has been a great story for the San Francisco 49ers, going from “Mr. Irrelevant” to leading the team deep into the playoffs. But let’s be real—if Purdy were on any other team, he’d already be holding a clipboard as a backup. The 49ers should not fall into the trap of paying him franchise quarterback money when his success is largely a product of the system and the talent around him.
Purdy Is Not Elite—He’s Just in the Perfect System
Look at the reality of Purdy’s situation: he plays in Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly system, where almost every QB looks good. Jimmy Garoppolo put up strong numbers under Shanahan but failed to replicate that success elsewhere. Even backups like Nick Mullens had productive games in this offense. The system relies on quick reads, play-action, and elite playmakers to make the quarterback’s job easier. Purdy is executing well, but he isn’t elevating the team the way a true franchise quarterback should.
Elite Weapons Make Purdy Look Better Than He Is
The 49ers are stacked with talent. Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle are all among the best at their positions. When you have elite players catching short passes and turning them into big plays, it inflates the quarterback’s stats. Purdy benefits from having one of the NFL’s best defenses, too, meaning he rarely has to play from behind or carry the team. Put him on a weaker roster, and he wouldn’t look nearly as impressive.
Overpaying Him Would Be a Mistake
Purdy is still on his rookie contract, which is a huge advantage for the 49ers. They can afford to keep their stars because they aren’t paying their quarterback big money. But when Purdy becomes eligible for an extension, the 49ers will have a tough decision. If they pay him like a top-tier quarterback, they’ll have to cut costs elsewhere—likely losing key players who actually make this offense dangerous. History has shown that overpaying an average QB can cripple a franchise (see: Jared Goff with the Rams, Carson Wentz with the Eagles).
The Smart Move? Let Him Walk If Necessary
The 49ers should learn from teams that have successfully cycled through quarterbacks instead of overpaying them. The Patriots moved on from Jimmy Garoppolo. The Eagles replaced Wentz and won with Jalen Hurts. San Francisco should consider drafting another QB or finding a cheap veteran rather than locking themselves into an expensive Purdy deal.
Purdy has done a solid job running the offense, but he’s not an irreplaceable superstar. If the 49ers are smart, they’ll avoid the mistake of paying him like on