The San Francisco 49ers are working to finalize a contract extension with quarterback Brock Purdy, aiming to get a deal done sooner rather than later. However, if negotiations stall, they could stretch into the offseason program, raising the question: Would Purdy hold out?
Speaking at the NFL's annual meeting in Florida on Tuesday morning, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if the 49ers are prepared for the possibility of their starting quarterback missing time due to contract talks. Could that happen?
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"I hope not," Shanahan said. "And I know Brock doesn't want to do that. We don't want him to do that. I mean, no one wants to do that. But these are negotiations that go on between agents and our organization and it's over a lot of money and stuff. Those aren't just things that you just knock out right away.
"But I believe that we will (sign him). I hope that we do. And hopefully, it won't come into any football stuff."
The 49ers have cleared significant future cash spending this offseason, signaling their commitment to making Purdy one of the NFL's highest-paid players. The quarterback, a seventh-round pick in 2022, has been one of the league's best bargains over the past three seasons. That will soon change with a well-earned pay raise.
When asked about the importance of having certainty at the quarterback position before making a major financial commitment, Shanahan emphasized its significance.
"You need to be certain on that," Shanahan said. "I mean, you pay a quarterback, and if that's not who you're certain about, it's not going to be very fun after that."
On Monday, general manager John Lynch addressed reporters, expressing confidence that a deal with Purdy will be finalized.
"I think we're going to get the deal done. That's what I believe," Lynch said.
When asked if expecting an agreement before the start of the offseason program was overly optimistic, Lynch disagreed.
"I don't think it's too optimistic," he said. "I think I understand why Brock wants that. We'd like that very much, so we've just got to find that right place for both sides, and I would love nothing more than for that to be the case."