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Purdy's salary is tethered to his draft position, being the final pick in last year's draft. That means his paychecks take up only a small fraction of the 49ers' salary cap. He's on a rookie deal that cannot be touched until after the 2024 season, per CBA rules. Despite growing recognition, the quarterback still lives with a roommate, splitting the rent with a teammate.
"Obviously, [I'm being paid the] league minimum and trying to save my money, and so [I'm] splitting rent with my roommate, who's an offensive lineman here (Nick Zakelj)," Purdy shared with Rich Eisen on Thursday.
The quarterback is unconcerned with money, though, or the fame that often accompanies athletes in his position. He's happy right where he is.
"I'm playing in the NFL, on a great team, and some people want to make it a big deal, like, 'Oh, you should be getting paid this,'" Purdy said. "And I don't care about any of that. We're having fun with where we're at, and I'm appreciative of just everything."
"We'll see," is all Purdy had to say to that, acknowledging that he just wants to appreciate today rather than focusing on tomorrow.
How does Purdy manage the attention of being part of the exclusive group of NFL starting quarterbacks, a role only available to 32 individuals worldwide at any given moment?
"For me, I just try to keep it simple, man," Purdy told Eisen. "I just got to remember I'm human. I'm the same son, brother, fiance. I have a fiance now, but I just keep those things in mind, man. I don't try to think that I'm somebody else or something bigger, and so that's just how I go about my life."
Eisen finds Purdy's composure in his current situation fascinating. He was curious about what sets the 23-year-old quarterback apart, enabling him to remain unfazed by it all. The second-year quarterback has never hesitated to share that answer and did so again during the conversation.
"All the other stuff that comes about—obviously, you've got legends and people that you grew up watching that you're able to now talk to and stuff, but, man, they're human, too. I'm human. We're not these gods or anything crazy. So, I don't know; I just try to keep it simple. I'm living life, I'm playing football, and I get to get paid doing this job, and it's a blessing."
Purdy's critics came out in full force following Sunday's defeat, stating the young quarterback had been exposed by the Browns defense, downplaying his prior success. Purdy doesn't let that narrative deter him. In fact, it doesn't sound like he's giving it much thought at all.
"I would just say I don't really care, in a sense," Purdy said. "I just want to win. I want to help this team win. People can say what they want. That's cool. I just want to help this team win and reach our goals. And then we'll see at the end of all this if that's true or not."
