Rapoport: How 49ers’ Brock Purdy can use 2024 to leverage massive payday

Brock Purdy is coming off a career-defining year, not just for himself but also in San Francisco 49ers history. The quarterback set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards last season. For those hoping to argue, "Yeah, but the season is 17 games now," Purdy accomplished this feat in just 16 games, sitting out the final week of the regular season.

Purdy has positioned himself to become one of the highest-paid players in NFL history next year. The 49ers can begin contract extension negotiations with their talented young quarterback after the upcoming regular season. Purdy's impressive start to his NFL career, leading the 49ers to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl in his first two years, sets him up for a deal comparable to those of Trevor Lawrence or Joe Burrow.

But what if he has an even better 2024 campaign than last season?

"It seems like the 49ers have a no-brainer here," insider Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network. "It's not like, well, are they going to extend him? Are they going to give him a big contract? He has proven that he is their franchise guy.

"Really, what he's doing this season is how high? And so the 49ers are going to be a team competing for everything once again. Are they able to go deep in the playoffs again? Are they able to win the Super Bowl? These are the sorts of things that can take a quarterback from getting really good money in the 50s [millions per year] to the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL."

Rapoport concluded, "It's all out there for Brock Purdy. It's really just a matter of how well does he play and how high does he drive up that price?"

Purdy's success story has been inspiring, capturing the attention of football fans and analysts alike. He could go from "Mr. Irrelevant," the last overall pick in the 2022 draft, to the highest-paid player in the sport.