Once their injury-plagued 2024 season is in the rearview mirror, the San Francisco 49ers will face a pivotal offseason task: evaluating quarterback Brock Purdy's long-term value.
Purdy, the 2022 NFL Draft's final pick, has been the 49ers' starting quarterback since December of his rookie season. He is eligible for his first contract extension following this campaign, which could come as early as January if the 49ers fail to make the playoffs. At 5-7, the playoffs continue to slip further out of the 49ers' grasp, setting the stage for the team's leadership to shift focus to Purdy quicker than expected.
The financial commitment the 49ers make—or don't make—to Purdy will influence how they construct their roster for years to come, especially as they lose the benefit of building around a cost-effective quarterback.
"A few months ago, when the Niners looked like the favorites to win the NFC again, you might have thought Purdy was in line for a top-of-market extension along the lines of Dak Prescott or Joe Burrow," Dan Graziano recently wrote in a feature for ESPN. "And he still might be. But the Niners have a lot of tough questions to answer about the future of their roster and some of the larger veteran contracts they have on the books."
San Francisco has made significant financial investments in key players, including running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and left tackle Trent Williams. However, injuries have sidelined all three, with McCaffrey and Aiyuk on injured reserve and Williams battling an ankle injury. They recently paid handsomely to make cornerback Deommodore Lenoir a cornerstone piece on defense for years to come.
Meanwhile, the team has several veteran stars consuming a significant portion of the salary cap—like tight end George Kittle, defensive end Nick Bosa, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and linebacker Fred Warner.
Making Purdy one of the NFL's highest-paid players would restrict the 49ers' flexibility to reinforce other areas of the roster. The lingering question remains: Can Purdy elevate the team to championship contention as it deals with adversity?
Purdy started this season hot but has simmered down in recent games. In Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills, he managed just 94 passing yards after returning from a shoulder injury while playing in challenging weather conditions.
The 49ers were also missing several key players at Highmark Stadium, raising another question: Can Purdy deliver in big games without a full complement of weapons?
"Purdy is signed through 2025, so it's not essential that they extend him next offseason," Graziano wrote. "But him heading into the final season of his deal without an extension brings a lot of uncertainty about the future for everyone involved with the franchise. Purdy is the quarterback the 49ers pulled out of their hat when Trey Lance didn't work out. Would they trust themselves to do it again? Or is extending Purdy at a big-money level a foregone conclusion?"
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will face critical decisions this offseason, none more consequential than determining Purdy's place in the NFL's quarterback hierarchy and the 49ers' plans for the future.